Chapter 1044: From Founding to Consolidation

In terms of etiquette, Emperor Liu gave Li Yu, this fallen ruler, surprisingly special attention, hosting a private banquet in Wansui Hall—treatment normally reserved only for his most trusted and vital ministers. However, after satisfying a bit of inner curiosity, Liu Chengyou was still that Emperor Liu, the reigning Son of Heaven.

As the enemy who had destroyed his state and ancestral temples, Emperor Liu could not truly open his heart to Li Yu and chat about poetry and such—first, he lacked that kind of learning, and second, Li Yu likely had no mood for it either.

Even the thought of discussing with Li Yu the mistakes of his reign and exploring why his state had fallen so swiftly ultimately went unspoken—Emperor Liu had lost that interest. The two merely shared a meal, and then Li Yu was allowed to leave the palace. Having just arrived in the Eastern Capital, there were many matters to settle.

However, in Liu Chengyou's view, Li Yu's desolation, melancholy, and dejection already had that flavor to it. In truth, standing from the position of an emperor, a sovereign, Liu Chengyou would never think highly of Li Yu, even deeply despising his incompetence at governing.

Now that his state had fallen and he had entered the Han, if Li Yu could no longer produce those timeless masterpieces in the future, then he would lose even the last qualification to earn Emperor Liu's pity or sympathy. Having adjusted his mindset, Liu Chengyou now regarded Li Yu as he would any ordinary man.

Duke of Peng—that was the noble title Liu Chengyou bestowed upon Li Yu. Compared to the dignity-crushing "Marquis of Defied Orders," this was far more generous. His full stipend, not a single coin or grain short, was provided; his mansion had long been prepared, where he would keep company with Meng Chang and his lot. Naturally, there were certain restrictions on privileges—though even if privileges were granted, would he dare to use them?

Inevitably, there was restraint on his freedom, likely something that would accompany him for the rest of his life. Liu Chengyou even mused: Meng Chang was a middle-aged man of culture, and Li Yu this young man of letters—if the two became neighbors, might they not complement each other splendidly?

With the issuance of Emperor Liu's decree, the matter of Li Yu, the surrendered ruler of Jiangnan, reached a basic conclusion. The Emperor received Li Yu, the Empress received Lady Diao, and Li Yu's mother, Lady Zhong, who had fallen ill during the northward journey and was bedridden, received an imperial edict from Empress Dowager Li as well, granting her medicine and treatment as a gesture of concern.

A brief review would reveal that in Emperor Liu's era, there were many virtuous women and mothers. The Han Empress Dowager went without saying; Li Congyi's foster mother Lady Wang, Meng Chang's mother Lady Li, and even Li Yu's mother Lady Zhong all held reputations for virtue.

Curled up on the imperial couch, wrapped in a brocade quilt, Emperor Liu suffered terribly from the bitter cold every winter. The charcoal brazier had been removed—that thing was no longer suitable for prolonged use, being harmful to one's health. The doors were opened wide to ventilate the stagnant air, and the frigid wind outside rushed madly in, launching an assault on Emperor Liu.

Feeling his hands and feet gradually going numb, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but sigh: "Why have I grown so intolerant of the cold?"

"Your Majesty, shall I select two palace maids to warm your body?" Seeing Emperor Liu's discomfort, the newly appointed head palace eunuch, Yan Tuo, suggested.

Emperor Liu naturally understood what he meant by "warming the body"—it wasn't about summoning them for intimacy, merely using their soft, warm, delicate bodies to dispel the chill. The utterly decadent experience of the privileged class... Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu directly shook his head and said: "Forget it!"

"If Your Majesty continues like this and harms your imperial body, it would not be a blessing for the state and the altars of the nation!" Yan Tuo said.

This Yan Tuo—fair-skinned and clean-cut, about the same age as Emperor Liu, very attentive in caring for others—had eyes full of worry and concern for Emperor Liu. The sentiment flowing from his gaze was almost as if he wished he could bear the bitter cold in Emperor Liu's place.

"Go prepare some hot water—soaking my feet will suffice—and also prepare some wine!" Emperor Liu glanced at him and ordered.

"Yes!"

"Sigh, four years ago, I could still ride out on campaign through ice and snow. Now, I can hardly endure even this slight chill..." Pinching his calf that ached faintly, Liu Chengyou furrowed his brow slightly and let out a deep sigh.

After crossing thirty, Emperor Liu could clearly feel his body beginning its decline. His mental state remained excellent, but his physical condition was truly not what it used to be. For fifteen years, he had governed with vigor and dedication—though not exactly burning the midnight oil or forgetting food and sleep, he had never truly relaxed.

In recent years, Emperor Liu had consciously been lightening his own burden, but the toil of his early years had truly been excessive. Moreover, Liu Chengyou had personally campaigned twice in winter and made one northern inspection tour in winter, all of which had inflicted considerable damage on his body.

Years of constant rushing and toil had not been without cost! Over these years, due to state affairs and military matters, how many worthy ministers and brave generals across the court had collapsed or fallen ill from overwork? That Emperor Liu was no exception came as no surprise.

Now, with north and south nearing unification, one could say his achievements were complete and his great enterprise accomplished. But Emperor Liu still knew in his heart that his undertaking had truly only reached its halfway point. Pacifying the realm barely counted as done; governing the realm was still far off.

Of course, Liu Chengyou had now consciously begun protecting his body, the primary measure being to minimize overexertion as much as possible. However, this was destined to conflict with his nature and his thirst for power.

Back when the Daoist Chen Tuan first entered the capital, he had given Emperor Liu a regimen for health preservation, and he'd had Wang Qiwu "translate" it for him as well. Yet after all these years, that Eighty-One Chapters had long since been forgotten in some corner. The Emperor cultivated the way of the mundane world—governing the state and ordering the realm, cleansing desires and nurturing the elixir of return—none of it suited him at all.

Cold rises from the feet. After soaking his feet in the basin for barely a quarter of an hour, Liu Chengyou felt warmth spreading between his shoulder blades, sweat beading on his forehead. Steam rose, and his body grew somewhat more comfortable. Taking a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat, a hint of relief showed on his flushed face.

After a long while, Yan Tuo spoke up on his own: "Your Majesty, the water has gone lukewarm—allow me to add some hot water!"

Emperor Liu merely gave a soft acknowledgment, lifting his feet, his attention fixed on a memorial in his hands. Seeing this, Yan Tuo hurriedly ordered someone to bring hot water, then personally took a ladle to add it to the foot basin. His hands were steady, his movements cautious, afraid of splashing and scalding the Emperor.

What Liu Chengyou held was the Ministry of War's request regarding rewards and commendations for the officers and soldiers who had rendered merit in pacifying the south. It was also fortunate that it was winter, when official and civilian activities were relatively few, and the situation in the south was growing increasingly stable and peaceful. Though the order to withdraw the troops had not yet been given, the matter of assessing merits and granting rewards should be put on the agenda and prepared in advance.

On this matter, Emperor Liu would not be stingy, and likewise, he held great recognition for Murong Yanzhao's administrative competence—he only needed to nod and let them proceed. The merits of officers and soldiers at all levels, as well as civil and military officials, still required evaluation and review. What Emperor Liu was truly considering was using the opportunity of the southern pacification and unification to conduct a comprehensive overhaul of the Great Han's meritorious official and noble title systems.

Over these ten-plus years, Emperor Liu had granted out no small number of noble titles and lands. Among these were rewards for military merit, for administrative achievement, and quite a few titles bestowed to buy off and appease military governors of the provinces. Even though in the later period Liu Chengyou had consciously tried to control the granting and distribution of titles, by now he still felt they had become somewhat excessive.

As of the fifteenth year of Qianyou, the Great Han court had over a hundred individuals with titles of Duke and above—more than half of them conferred after Liu Chengyou ascended the throne—and below Duke, there were even more. With this proliferation, the titles had lost their value.

Of course, most of what Liu Chengyou had conferred were rewards for actual merit. But looking at the overall picture, titles were being granted too easily and too heavily, even though the current titles were already nominal compared to the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Even so, Emperor Liu still felt that the Great Han's title system had too many problems requiring rectification. For instance, many people's titles did not match their actual merits, and which families could have their titles inherited with reduced rank still needed further clarification.

There was also one most important issue: whether the lands held by the nobility and meritorious families should be taxed. This was an especially sensitive point—even Emperor Liu dared not be careless about it.

He had considered much, but one resolve was firmly set: to conduct a comprehensive review of the Great Han's nobles and titled families, re-evaluate and re-grant titles and rewards, so as to truly consolidate and perfect the title system.

It was easy to imagine that the moment Emperor Liu revealed this intention, a storm of controversy would be unavoidable. Some would not be too nervous, because their merits were solid; others would be anxious, because their foundation was lacking...

And once personal interests were touched, probably no one could truly remain calm. And this might be the beginning of Emperor Liu's internal rectification of the Great Han. The Qianyou reign that had passed spanned fifteen years in total, achieving tremendous accomplishments and results. But likewise, old maladies had been eradicated and the chaotic era was coming to an end—yet in this process, new problems were arising, and new social contradictions were gradually accumulating.

Ushering in an era of good governance and marching toward an age of prosperity was the road ahead for Emperor Liu—a road no easier than unification, perhaps even more difficult. After all, there was that saying: preserving an enterprise is harder than founding one.