Chapter 1168: The Western Capital Visit

In early summer, though the temperature was gradually rising, it was not yet hot. On the contrary, with suitable warmth, ample sunshine, and occasional rain, the trees and grain crops across the land of the He-Luo region were thriving vigorously — this was roughly the period of their greatest vitality.

Traveling westward, fields were visible everywhere. The spring-planted grain, tended by farmers, had already grown thick and lush, with rich greenery nearly covering the ground. There were also large stretches of yellowing wheat fields, ripe for harvest.

Seeing such scenes along the way, how could Emperor Liu's mood not be delighted? No matter how things developed, agriculture as the foundation was an unchangeable national policy of the Great Han, an unshakable focus in governing the empire.

Having experienced an era of famine, Emperor Liu knew all too well the principle that "the people regard food as their heaven." In recent years, under Emperor Liu's will, the court had increased development and construction in the He-Luo region — not just aimed at the single city of Luoyang. Supporting roads and transportation, military deployments, official appointments, and river canal shipping were all actually proceeding in an orderly manner on all fronts; it was just that Uncle Imperial Murong's renovation of Luoyang had made such a stir that it attracted too many people's attention.

At the same time, grain reserves in the Luoyang region received greater emphasis. Around Luoyang's periphery, four large granaries were built in total, each capable of storing over a million dan of grain. By the sixth year of Kaibao, these granaries had all been filled.

According to the Ministry of Revenue's report in the first month, official grain reserves in Luoyang and its surroundings combined exceeded six million dan, and through water and land transport, four million dan of grain could be transferred annually from various circuits and prefectures.

All of this preparation was planned according to the standards of a super-large city — that is, only when every aspect was perfected did Emperor Liu undertake this grand tour of Luoyang. Renovating the city of Luoyang was merely the final important measure.

Compared to last year's tour, this westward visit to Luoyang was on a far larger scale — it was almost a unified relocation. Ministers, officials, and troops combined numbered over two hundred thousand, and the procession stretched more than seventy li from head to tail.

To be honest, it was quite troublesome. But this kind of trouble would probably happen only this once. Because the accompanying officials' families and household goods were too numerous, progress was naturally slow — even though every household had carts and livestock, they still could not move quickly.

Slow days covered twenty li, fast days thirty li — even slower than refugee migrations. There was no help for it; the baggage was too heavy. It was only because the direct road between the two capitals had been opened, with good road conditions, that it wasn't even more arduous.

From such a great commotion, one could see that Emperor Liu's westward tour of Luoyang was clearly not so simple. Not to say an outright move of the capital, but at the very least he would not be staying briefly in Luoyang. Up and down the ranks, there was no shortage of clever people — otherwise they would not have followed along carrying the elderly and leading the young, moving their entire families.

More than half of the palace guard and imperial army troops defending the Eastern Capital were also taken along. Moreover, apart from the palace guard protecting the Emperor and the three yamen imperial army troops stationed in Luoyang, the rest were deployed to garrison surrounding passes and fortresses under the arrangements of the Bureau of Military Affairs.

The eight passes encircling Luoyang had also been repaired in advance. One effect was notable: the Great Han's imperial army no longer had to be "crammed" into Kaifeng as before, day after day distracted and unsettled by the bustling clamor. From the perspectives of military defense and army building alone, Luoyang's advantages were outstanding.

As the edict promulgated at the beginning of the month stated, the imperial carriage departed the Eastern Capital on schedule on the twenty-fifth day of the third month, yet it took a full twenty days in total before entering Luoyang's borders.

"Your Majesty, only ten li remain to the Western Capital. The Western Capital reports that all arrangements for welcoming Your Majesty are in place. Does Your Majesty have any instructions?" Cao Bin came forward to report.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu gave a very calm response: "Proceed as usual!"

Because of the importance of this westward visit to Luoyang, Emperor Liu had also changed his previous style, having long since notified Luoyang to prepare an entry ceremony. Cao Bin was the Army Supervisor of this field headquarters, and the deployment and arrangement of the troops were all handled by him.

Ever since being recalled to court from the southeast, Cao Bin, in his capacity as Deputy Chief Commander of the Palace Command, had presided over the military affairs of the Palace Command. A general-minister like Cao Bin — humble and cautious, never accepting rewards without merit, declining them even when meritorious, low-key and steady in character, diligent and hardworking in his duties, with no lust for power — such conduct was something no emperor would fail to like and trust.

Of course, for an emperor prone to suspicion, such excessively humble conduct could not help but invite some doubt. Fortunately, though Emperor Liu was indeed suspicious and at times small-minded, toward Cao Bin he was mainly appreciative.

After all, if he could tolerate even the Guo-Chai-Zhao faction, treating them with high office, noble rank, generous salary, and important posts, how could he possibly suspect a Cao Bin?

And with Cao Bin's relationship with Guo Wei, plus Zhang Yongde serving as Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard at court, and Li Chongjin and Yang Tingzhang serving as circuit governors outside, the prestige and influence of the Guo-Chai faction were still objects of envy, jealousy, and resentment. It was only because Zhang Yongde and Cao Bin were both men who knew their place that the criticism was not even heavier.

At the same time, up to the present, another round of turnover had occurred among the senior generals of the imperial army. Palace Command chiefs and Guard chiefs like Gao Huaide and Xiang Xun had been sent out to guard the regions, replaced by relatively junior generals like Cao and Zhang. Old generals such as Sun Li and Li Jixun had also been relieved of their posts and reassigned elsewhere.

In the Qianyou era, the Great Han's famous generals were Murong, Chai, Zhao, and Gao; now, they were Pan, Yang, Cao, and Liu.

The post of chief palace guard general had also changed hands — it was Liu Guangyi, who had been recalled to the capital after pacifying Liuqiu. The former holder, Liu Tinghan, had gone north to command troops and guard the frontier.

After the northern expedition, the court had established garrisons and passes at Shanyang and the Yan Mountains. The Deputy Commander-in-Chief at Shanyang was Guo Chongwei; when that gentleman died of illness, Emperor Liu had Liu Tinghan succeed him, directly promoting him to full status. The original Commander-in-Chief, Wang Yanchao, was transferred laterally to the Yan Mountains Circuit.

The imperial carriage naturally stayed at the front of the procession, far more orderly than the winding chaos of the middle and rear. While on the move, Emperor Liu was not inside the carriage but sat on the shaft wood together with the imperial driver, basking in the bright sun.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of the Wude Office Li Chongju rode his horse, keeping close beside the carriage, chatting with Emperor Liu. Originally, Emperor Liu had invited him up into the carriage to converse, but Li Chongju absolutely refused, saying that was not a seat for a subject.

As a spymaster, he always maintained the deportment of a subject, cautious and careful, never daring any overstepping or improper action. Could Emperor Liu demand anything more of him?

What he discussed with Li Chongju was still the internal situation of Liao, especially matters concerning the Liao emperor Yelu Jing. Nowadays, only the Khitan Liao in the north could command such attention from Emperor Liu. And the Liao sovereign Yelu Jing, no matter how one looked at him, counted as a ruler of his generation.

Over so many years, Emperor Liu had destroyed enemies and foes, subdued the various states, and defeated so many opponents — yet most of them had performed poorly and were not even worth being taken seriously.

Only the Liao sovereign could truly be called an opponent. According to Li Chongju's report, over the past year, Yelu Jing had promoted some officials of talent and insight, while dismissing some aged and talentless men, keeping them only on stipend.

In the past two years, Liao's fortunes seemed not so good either — droughts had occurred consecutively, and the Liao sovereign Yelu Jing personally prayed for rain with increasing frequency, trying every means and method imaginable.

However, his personal habits had not changed at all — fond of wine and hunting, not only for himself but bringing along some ministers as well, even specifically offering fine wine as a sacrifice to heaven...