Chapter 1156: The Imperial Tour of Jiangnan

Unlike his inspections in Henan, when Emperor Liu came to Jiangnan, he did so with great fanfare—an imposing procession, full ceremonial regalia, and music accompanying the way. The entire Yangzhou naval force was deployed as escort, and the massive display nearly shook all of Jiangnan, its momentum almost comparable to the Han army's crossing of the river in years past.

Upon arriving in Jiangnan, Emperor Liu also changed his previous "do not disturb the people" style. The entire city of Jinling, organized by the Jiangnan administration, turned out to welcome the imperial carriage. Under the gaze of hundreds of thousands of Jiangnan commoners, the Son of Heaven's entourage entered the city with steady dignity. The conqueror from the north, in an overwhelmingly powerful posture, set foot on territory he had long craved for years.

Emperor Liu's purpose was also clear—to display his might to the gentry and commoners of Jiangnan with this high-profile, proud bearing, and to proclaim his determination to rule.

Going directly to reside in the Jinling palace grounds, led by Administration Commissioner Wang Zhu, Liu Chengyou also took in a viewing of the former Southern Tang palaces—pavilions, towers, carved beams and painted rafters, just as described in poetry: resplendent and magnificent. Even though most of the wealth and treasures of the original palace had been shipped to the Eastern Capital as war spoils, the now-empty palace still lost none of its elegance, allowing one to imagine the grandeur of its heyday.

"These Jinling palaces are certainly beautiful, but still a bit modest. Without gold, jade, and brocade adornments, they seem rather ordinary!" Standing before the main hall after a full circuit, Emperor Liu smiled faintly.

As the highest-ranking official of the Jiangnan circuit, Wang Zhu had the privilege of attending the emperor like a tour guide. Hearing this, he responded: "No matter how prosperous and flourishing Jiangnan may be, it is still a place of partial refuge. However beautifully the palaces are built and decorated, how could they compare with the grandeur of the Eastern Capital?"

"As the chief official of Jiangnan, if word spreads that you disparage your own jurisdiction so, are you not afraid of drawing criticism?" Emperor Liu chuckled.

Wang Zhu replied earnestly and composedly: "Your servant is first a servant of Your Majesty, and only then entrusted to govern Jiangnan!"

Appraising this trusted senior minister—now middle-aged, his bearing and temperament utterly transformed—the only thing that still felt familiar to Emperor Liu was the reverent submission revealed in his eyes.

Before the great hall stood a large crowd, neatly and solemnly arranged—ministers accompanying the imperial entourage, Jiangnan officials, and some southern literati and scholars. Although a great number of the former Jiangnan court's officials and academicians had been relocated to the north, a large group of renowned scholars still remained in the south.

Noticing Emperor Liu's gaze, Wang Zhu clasped his hands and said: "I beg Your Majesty to ascend the hall. The officials and people of Jiangnan have long yearned for Your Majesty's grace and authority!"

"Then let us ascend the hall!" Emperor Liu nodded.

Soon, Emperor Liu ascended the hall and sat in high position, while the assembled ministers filed in one by one to pay homage. This display naturally could not compare with the great court assembly at Chongyuan Hall, but the symbolic significance of this audience was extremely weighty—it seemed to herald Jiangnan's complete submission to the Emperor and the Great Han court.

As night fell, within Jinling city, lanterns still blazed, voices surged like tides, and throughout the markets, pleasure quarters and establishments continued to welcome guests without closing their doors—as if displaying Jinling's splendor to the visiting emperor: not only prosperous by day, but equally vibrant by night. It was said that to joyously welcome the Son of Heaven's visit to Jinling, many merchants and taverns in the city had lowered prices, offered discounts, or even served guests free of charge...

Accompanying Emperor Liu on his tour of the markets were Pure Consort Zhou and her daughter—after all, Jianghuai was her homeland. Back then, Emperor Liu had even made a special promise to accompany her in appreciating Jiangnan's splendor. While in Yangzhou, Emperor Liu had also specially accompanied her back to her hometown to pay respects to her ancestors.

Emperor Liu had little interest in Jinling's night market; he merely strolled along, taking in the southern scenery. What he focused on remained how the court's governance of Jiangnan was proceeding, and what attitude the gentry and commoners held toward the court.

As he wandered, he eventually arrived at the Administration Commissioner's yamen—clearly, this was his true destination.

The night had grown deep. Set against the bustle of the streets, the yamen compound seemed utterly silent. Inside the study, Wang Zhu was bent over, reviewing official documents, one hand holding a brush, the other clutching a wine flask...

Hasty footsteps sounded as a servant burst in, drawing Wang Zhu's displeasure—but upon hearing that the Emperor himself had arrived, he immediately forgot such trivialities and said in a flustered rush: "Quick, come with me to welcome him!"

"No need!" The voice arrived with the man. Looking up, Wang Zhu saw that Emperor Liu had already entered, wearing a peaceful smile, surrounded by guards in plain clothes.

Seeing this, Wang Zhu abandoned any thought of tidying up and stepped forward to bow in greeting: "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty. I failed to come out and welcome you—I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

"Rise!" Liu Chengyou extended his hand in a gesture of lifting, and said with a light laugh: "I am an uninvited guest—you must forgive the intrusion!"

"Your Majesty is too kind!" Wang Zhu hurriedly said. Glancing at Emperor Liu while guiding him to a seat, he admonished: "Your Majesty has gone out in plain clothes again! Your servant knows Your Majesty enjoys personally observing the people's condition, but Jinling is not the Eastern Capital, and it is nighttime besides—this is far too risky. If anything should go wrong..."

"I know what I'm doing!" Sensing that Wang Zhu's concern came from genuine sincerity, Emperor Liu cut him off. Looking at the official documents and the wine flask on the desk, he said: "Still so fond of the drink, eh!"

At this, Wang Zhu gave an embarrassed smile and said: "Your servant has only this one weakness—the cup."

Liu Chengyou's eyelids lifted slightly: "Your elegant sobriquet of 'the Single-Father Tippler' has become quite famous far and wide!"

"Your Majesty, your servant..." Wang Zhu hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and replied: "If Your Majesty disapproves, your servant can give it up!"

"Just don't neglect your official duties!" Emperor Liu waved his hand, looking at Wang Zhu standing bowed before the desk, and said: "Excessive drink harms the body—you must exercise moderation. You are also approaching forty, and growing thinner by the day. You should take care of your health!"

"I thank Your Majesty for your concern!" Hearing such gentle words from the Emperor, Wang Zhu appeared somewhat moved.

"Among the jinshi who have gone out from my side and become officials, apart from Wang Qiwu, you now hold the highest office!" Emperor Liu grew somewhat more serious and said: "Jiangnan is a treasure land—I regard it as a key source of revenue. I placed you here because I wanted someone I can trust to manage this prosperous region well on my behalf!"

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's regard and promotion. Your servant can only devote himself fully to his duties and not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations!" Wang Zhu replied with equal solemnity.

"Is the summer tax burden of two million five hundred thousand strings heavy?" Liu Chengyou flipped through the documents Wang Zhu had been reading—they were reports from Suzhou concerning the summer tax—and asked casually.

At this, Wang Zhu appeared extremely confident: "To answer Your Majesty, although your servant has only recently taken up his post in Jiangnan, he has already toured the various prefectures. After nearly five years of recuperation, Jiangnan's agriculture and commerce have fully recovered. I dare not compare with its most prosperous era, but bearing this amount of summer tax is more than sufficient!"

"Mm!" Liu Chengyou acknowledged, then asked: "In your view, what problems remain in the governance of Jiangnan?"

At the question, Wang Zhu thought carefully for a moment, then answered: "It still lies in the hearts of the people. Through the court's measures in recent years of relocating powerful clans and suppressing the strongmen, the popular sentiment has already been turned around. The common folk who have gained real benefits now largely incline their hearts toward the court.

However, the literati of Jiangnan remain a formidable force. Hindered by the court's talent-selection system, although they must submit to the court's authority, their submission is only lip service, not from the heart.

Your servant believes that if Jiangnan is to be governed peacefully, the court should grant these scholars some preferential treatment—after all, their influence among the common people remains considerable..."

"Preferential treatment? How much more preferential treatment do you want me to give?" Without waiting for him to finish, Emperor Liu countered directly: "Is the court's talent-selection system unfair? Or do I need to issue a special policy for Jiangnan's literati? You yourself said that the people's hearts can be relied upon—so why worry about anything else!"

Hearing these words from Emperor Liu, Wang Zhu fell silent for a moment, then clasped his hands and said: "Your servant spoke out of turn!"

"I hear that among Jiangnan's officials, there are quite a few retained talents!" Emperor Liu said: "For instance, Chen Qi, the Prefect of Jiangning, is a veritable 'strong-willed magistrate' of our time!"

At this mention, Wang Zhu immediately said: "Chen Qi is indeed a man of talent—he does not avoid the powerful, scorns ghosts and spirits, enforces the law as firmly as a mountain, and enjoys an excellent reputation among the common people! In the fourth year of Kaibao, he was recommended to govern Jiangning Prefecture!"

"I know!" Emperor Liu smiled faintly: "When the Crown Prince returned to the capital that year, he praised this man before me!"

After pondering for a while, Emperor Liu continued: "I hear that a group of former Jiangnan court officials have gathered around Zhong Mo? Do you think they show signs of forming a faction? Have you had any difficulties governing Jiangnan alongside this man?"