Chapter 1045: Surrendered Officials Come One After Another

"Your Majesty, Academician Lü requests an audience!" As Liu Chengyou's thoughts drifted back, Yan Tuo came forward to report.

"Summon him!" With a wave of his hand, Liu Chengyou instructed.

Soon, Lü Yin entered the hall to pay his respects, covered in cold dew, his face bearing the marks of wind and frost—clearly just returned from outside. Looking at Lü Yin, Liu Chengyou immediately ordered someone to bring him a bowl of hot soup, then shifted his feet and asked with a smile: "The weather is cold, and there's still plenty of hot water left. Would you care to soak your feet with me, Minister Lü?"

Having been out on official business, his feet were frozen stiff and cold. Noticing Emperor Liu's comfortable expression and hearing his words, his body naturally yearned for it, but his mouth still politely declined: "Your Majesty's kindness, I appreciate in my heart. I have come specifically to report on my mission!"

"Those Jiangnan civil officials—have they all been properly settled?" Liu Chengyou had only been making a token gesture, and immediately turned to matters of substance.

"To answer Your Majesty, they have been temporarily housed. As for permanent settlement and registration, that will depend on their future appointments!" Lü Yin replied.

Li Yu's family received special treatment, but the civil officials who came north with him and their families were not settled with such care. Over two hundred former Jiangnan officials—with Kaifeng's size, even if the number were ten times greater, it could easily accommodate them, but to settle everything quickly and properly would still take some time.

Lü Yin, as Academician-in-Chief of Chongzheng Hall, had represented Emperor Liu in visiting and entertaining them. After a moment's thought, Liu Chengyou asked: "How are they faring? What is their mood? Do they bear any resentment toward the court?"

Lü Yin recalled briefly, then reported: "Officials who accepted surrender, moved into the capital, cannot help but feel anxious and nostalgic for the past. From my observation, most are at a loss, worried about what the future holds!"

"Understandable!" Liu Chengyou smiled faintly and said: "Notify the Kaifeng administration to look after these southern officials as best they can. After all, we invited them to the Eastern Capital; it wouldn't do to ignore them. Their confusion and uncertainty largely stem from where they will belong after entering the Han—we should give them a reassurance!"

Hearing this, Lü Yin took the initiative to ask: "May I ask when Your Majesty plans to receive them?"

Previously, when Shu officials came to the capital, Emperor Liu had specially hosted a banquet in their honor. Now that Tang officials had come north, he would not treat them differently. However, Liu Chengyou did not answer directly, but instead asked: "The Li family, across three generations, vigorously promoted culture and education, nurturing scholars, so that Jiangnan's literary flourishing surpassed all under heaven. It is said that the Jinling court is full of literary officials, skilled in prose and verse, fond of lofty talk, but lacking in practical matters. In your view, is this so?"

Facing Emperor Liu's question, Lü Yin replied: "Jiangnan officials indeed have no shortage of literary men, but to paint them all with one brush would be biased. I believe that among the two hundred-plus Jinling court officials, there must be no lack of talent. Think of the early days of the state—anyone in the realm who could read and write could be entrusted with clerical duties, let alone these learned scholars? If Your Majesty despises them for this, then why establish schools and emphasize the imperial examinations?

The Central Plains are vast; customs and culture cannot be uniform. Jiangnan's lands are now Han territory, and Jiangnan's scholars and people are now Han subjects. Your Majesty need only be inclusive and employ both, selecting the worthy and using their talents, to win the hearts of all under heaven!"

Liu Chengyou hadn't expected Lü Yin to lecture him directly, but listening to his admonition, he found it quite fair—unlike some ministers at court who boasted of the Central Plains and looked down on Jiangnan.

Nodding to Lü Yin, Liu Chengyou said: "I have no intention of belittling Jiangnan. I have always held its ritual systems, cultural heritage, and flourishing livelihood in high regard. The very reason I invited them to the Eastern Capital was to make use of their wisdom and employ their talents!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Lü Yin offered a small flattery.

After some consideration, Liu Chengyou said: "I shall host a banquet for them at Qionglin Garden. Send invitations to everyone. They are surely unfamiliar with the roads of the Eastern Capital, so carriage transport will also be arranged. This matter is yours to handle!"

"Yes!"

"Additionally!" Liu Chengyou continued his instructions: "Have Dou Yi take the lead, together with Xue Juzheng, to assess these southern officials individually, appoint them according to their abilities, and assign them to the various ministries, offices, and prefectures!"

"Understood!"

With a basic arrangement made for the Jiangnan officials, Liu Chengyou's personal attention already showed his regard for them. Thinking of one person, Liu Chengyou asked: "What of Han Xizai? You must have seen him—what do you think of the man?"

Lü Yin looked at Liu Chengyou with slight surprise, recalled for a moment, and answered: "Though advanced in years, he is spirited and clear-minded. From my observation, he still has ambition and interest!"

"Naturally!" Liu Chengyou smiled. Regarding Han Xizai's situation, Jinling had long since reported on it, and Emperor Liu was satisfied with his understanding of the times.

"Will Your Majesty receive him?" Lü Yin asked.

"Not for now!" Liu Chengyou shook his head and said: "We'll see later!"

"Anything else?" Looking at Lü Yin, Liu Chengyou asked again.

"Suzhou reports that Chen Hongjin, Military Governor of Pinghai, and his family have already passed through. Before long, they will arrive at the Eastern Capital!" Lü Yin replied.

Because Chen Hongjin had seized military and political power in Zhang and Quan through a coup, although Liu Chengyou had recognized him previously, he still harbored some displeasure. However, after the great army had taken all the lands of the Two Rivers, Chen Hongjin had taken the initiative to invite Liu Guangyi to send troops into Zhang and Quan, handed over the population registers, military and political authority, and voluntarily submitted a memorial requesting to enter Kaifeng.

To this, Liu Chengyou naturally had no reason to refuse, and issued an edict granting his request. In truth, the reason Chen Hongjin was so proactive was that he had been shaken by Liu Chengyou's direct grant of the military governorship and his demand for Liu Shaoyi.

Originally, in the Zhang-Quan coup, although Chen Hongjin was the driving force, he had stayed behind the scenes, propping up Zhang Hansi as the figurehead. Zhang Hansi was senile and old; Chen Hongjin had planned to let Zhang Hansi take the heat up top first, then step to the forefront once the situation stabilized.

But then, an edict from the Emperor directly told him: no need to hide—I know you, and I know the circumstances of the Zhang-Quan coup. At that moment, Chen Hongjin realized that although the Emperor was far away, the Han Son of Heaven and his court were truly not easy to deceive.

Additionally, since Liu Congxiao's later years in power, the connection between Zhang-Quan and the court had already grown much closer. After comprehensive consideration, Chen Hongjin thoroughly abandoned all superfluous schemes and directly submitted a memorial of submission.

In fact, at that time Liu Guangyi had already stationed troops in Jianzhou and accepted Chen Hui's surrender, and could march on Zhang-Quan at any moment. Pressured by circumstances, Chen Hongjin had no other choice. To raise troops and resist stubbornly—to the north was Liu Guangyi, to the west was Murong Chengtai. He was not senile.

As for delaying and such—rather than wait for the court to make its move, it was better to seize the initiative and earn some favorable impression. The fate of Zhang and Quan was sealed regardless; they could not remain independent of the court.

Chen Hongjin's calculations were similar to Liu Congxiao's back in the day. Therefore, this time Chen Hongjin came to the capital thoroughly and completely, liquidating all his family property, sailing north with his entire household, with no intention of returning to Zhang-Quan.

Given Chen Hongjin's sincerity and initiative, the resentment in Liu Chengyou's heart largely dissipated. He had indeed once harbored the ambitions of a warlord, but he could still see the greater trend and understand the times.

Therefore, Liu Chengyou welcomed Chen Hongjin's arrival and instructed: "For his reception, have the Ministry of Rites make arrangements in advance. Do not treat Chen Hongjin shabbily!"

"Yes!"

"And the King of Wuyue?" Mentioning Qian Hongchu, Liu Chengyou's mood improved somewhat. News that Qian Hongchu had answered the edict and was coming north had long since arrived, and from Tao Gu's secret memorial, Qian Hongchu's resolve to offer up his territory was already firm.

Compared to the small patch of Zhang-Quan, what Wuyue controlled—Liangzhe, part of Jiangnan, part of Min—was clearly more worthy of attention. Moreover, the reason Emperor Liu could treat Chen Hongjin with such tolerance was that Chen Hongjin's practical actions had set an example for Qian Hongchu, indirectly prompting Qian Hongchu's journey north.

"The King of Wuyue's party took the route from the river into the Huai, then along the canal. Because they carry a great deal with them, their progress is considerably slower. However, according to earlier reports, they should have crossed the river by now!"

"Good!" Liu Chengyou's brow relaxed, his expression full of joy, and he said to Lü Yin: "Wang Quanbin reports that the Yang clan of Bozhou has sent people to make contact, also intending to return to the court. The realm is about to be unified!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Lü Yin clasped his hands in congratulations.

But once he calmed down, Emperor Liu couldn't help muttering: "It's only a pity that the golden vessel still has its flaws..."