Chapter 1240: Heeding Counsel Like Flowing Water

"Your Majesty!" Having been announced and entering, Noble Consort Gao ignored Yan Tuo, who was bowing in greeting, and looked at Emperor Liu sitting on the kang in a pensive pose, calling out softly.

"You've come. Sit!" Raising his eyes to look at the consort, who still bore traces of her former elegance despite her years, Emperor Liu revealed a gentle smile and patted the heated kang.

Noble Consort Gao was not at all reserved. She made a graceful bow, then stepped forward and leaned over, her ample hips naturally pressing onto the edge of the kang. Looking at Emperor Liu, she asked with concern: "How do you feel?"

At the question, Emperor Liu said: "The imperial physician has finished his acupuncture. I feel much better, though staying on this kang, I can't help but break out in a sweat. I think we could also build kangs in the Luoyang palace. Don't scorn them as vulgar—so long as they keep one warm, that's enough. If the common folk can use them, why can't I?"

Seeing that Emperor Liu was in good spirits, Noble Consort Gao also wore a relieved expression. She took out two cylindrical fur-sewn items from her bosom and said: "These are two leg warmers I sewed. When you next travel, wear them!"

Feeling the consort's thoughtfulness, Emperor Liu's gaze grew even softer. He picked them up and felt them—the texture was soft, clearly made of fine material, though what rare wild beast had been skinned for it, he couldn't tell. In front of the consort, Emperor Liu put them on, stretched his legs, and said to her: "Not bad, they fit just right, and they're comfortable too!"

Seeing this, Noble Consort Gao naturally felt greatly gratified. Though Emperor Liu's display was somewhat deliberate, it ultimately satisfied the woman. Reaching her hand into the bedding, a pair of hands no longer fair and delicate gently massaged Emperor Liu's calves. Noble Consort Gao asked: "I just saw Physician Sun. He was trembling with fear—what happened?"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but chuckle and replied: "Nothing serious. Physicians, when giving me acupuncture and medicine, are always nervous and constrained. He's probably just scaring himself. With such timidity, how can he diagnose accurately and work wonders with his art?"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Noble Consort Gao said: "I rather think it's not that the physician is timid, but that His Majesty's authority is too weighty. Your subjects dare not be unafraid—they dare not even speak or offer counsel!"

"Am I really that frightening?" Emperor Liu seemed to have no self-awareness of it, saying casually: "I have always opened wide the road of remonstrance, listening to all and gathering many views. When have I ever blocked counsel?"

Having spoken, he realized something. His gaze sharpened slightly as he stared at Noble Consort Gao's face, full of mature charm, and said with a light laugh: "You seem to have something behind your words! If you have something to say, just say it directly!"

"With my meager skill, of course I can't hide anything from His Majesty's eyes!" Noble Consort Gao also appeared candid, offering a small flattery, then said: "Before I came, I ran into the Imperial Uncle!"

"He asked you to remonstrate with me on his behalf!" Emperor Liu pointed out directly.

The consort was slightly surprised and asked: "His Majesty already knows?"

"He lingered in the courtyard for so long—how could I not know!" Emperor Liu said: "I even know what he asked you to convey!"

Saying this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but sigh: "This uncle of mine! Why can't he speak to me directly? He has to go around in circles, speaking through your mouth. If he reasoned with me plainly, would I rebuke him? Even at the rank of chancellor, sometimes he still lacks vision..."

"As they say, the majesty of Heaven is hard to fathom, and His Majesty is unfathomably deep. When ministers offer counsel and act, it's natural that they hesitate and hold back, with certain misgivings!" The consort responded.

Emperor Liu: "This is the art of governing ministers. How could an emperor let his subjects see through everything? If the sovereign's authority is not weighty, imperial power will sooner or later be trampled..."

Seeing Emperor Liu's serious expression, Noble Consort Gao smiled instead and said: "What His Majesty says is naturally reasonable. Why argue with a woman like me!"

Seeing this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but recover his smile and waved his hand: "I'm used to it!"

Looking at Emperor Liu, Noble Consort Gao said: "Since His Majesty already knows the Imperial Uncle's purpose, there's no need for me to say more, is there?"

Emperor Liu shook his head: "Since you've acted as the Imperial Uncle's messenger, you should at least deliver the message in full! Repeat what he said—I'll listen for now!"

Seeing Emperor Liu's slightly amused expression, the consort didn't delay and directly relayed Li Ye's words of remonstrance. After hearing it, Emperor Liu's reaction was rather flat. He merely said leisurely: "Still the same old clichés!"

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Liu asked the consort: "What's your opinion? Do you think we should continue on or not?"

"Wherever His Majesty travels, I shall accompany!" Noble Consort Gao said this.

Hearing her words, Emperor Liu's mouth curled slightly and he said: "No need to flatter me! Tell me what you truly think!"

Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze, the consort's jade-like face gradually turned serious. After a slight hesitation, she still spoke earnestly: "Since His Majesty asks me to speak the truth, then I'll speak the truth. In my view, we cannot continue on. Even if you don't consider the many people accompanying you, as the sovereign of the realm, you must also think of your own health!

Though Hexi is part of the realm, and His Majesty's desire to personally inspect it—this ambition is admired by all. When you arrive at Guzang, the officials and people will all feel your sincerity.

But this place is ultimately remote and distant, with water, soil, and climate vastly different from the Central Plains. Travelers can hardly adapt in a short time. The many wounded and sick in the field headquarters are clear proof of that.

If even the soldiers are like this, then the princes, ministers, and palace attendants accompanying you—their bodies are not all robust either, and quite a few have fallen ill. At such a time, this is truly not a good season for an inspection tour!"

"I've toured in winter before!" Emperor Liu said this, recalling that winter inspection of Hebei military affairs in the second year of Qianyou. Perhaps it was precisely those past experiences of inspection and personal campaigns that had given Emperor Liu a false impression, making him obstinate and stubborn, unwilling to listen to advice.

Noble Consort Gao replied calmly: "That time, we didn't travel this far, nor was the journey as complex and perilous as this one. And His Majesty's legs had not yet suffered from this wind-numbing affliction..."

"Don't I know that!" Emperor Liu fell silent for a moment, finally murmuring softly. Though his expression remained stubborn, his attitude seemed to have loosened somewhat.

"Let me think it over!" Emperor Liu said this.

"Yes!" Noble Consort Gao acknowledged and said no more.

Emperor Liu pondered to himself for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and asked: "I suspect that in the field headquarters, no one wants to continue westward anymore, right?"

"That I don't know. His Majesty might as well inquire—have you not always been considerate of those below?" Noble Consort Gao said. Though her words were so, the meaning revealed on her face suggested it was probably about that.

"Since everyone's wishes are so, why didn't you speak up this time?" Emperor Liu said this, and even he himself felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Yan Tuo!"

"This servant is here!" Yan Tuo, who had been standing by as a transparent presence, immediately responded.

"Summon Luo Yangui to the field headquarters for an audience!" Emperor Liu instructed.

After waiting about half an hour, Luo Yangui hurriedly arrived at the field headquarters for an audience. Emperor Liu directly received him before the imperial kang. With a solemn expression and serious tone, he asked: "How is the situation with the soldiers of the field headquarters' various armies? Have the casualties been properly arranged?"

Sensing the Emperor's tone, Luo Yangui dared not be negligent and answered earnestly: "To answer Your Majesty, with the Guzang government offices and the stationed troops, the soldiers of the field headquarters have been fully taken in, and all supplies have been dispatched and arranged. Those with frostbite and illness have been scattered and settled, with sufficient medicine prepared for treatment!"

"Before departing from Lingzhou, wasn't there a full replenishment of supplies? Why then are there still such great losses?" Emperor Liu sat up sideways, staring at Luo Yangui.

Luo Yangui sighed and explained: "Your Majesty, it's still that the soldiers are unaccustomed to the local water and soil. In the depths of this bitter winter, with the north wind howling, the cold-weather supplies only alleviate the suffering. Moreover, after crossing the river at Zhongwei, that sudden wave of cold snap caught the soldiers completely off guard—half of the frostbite and acute illnesses occurred that very night..."

"After resting for a while, can we continue on?" Emperor Liu gazed at Luo Yangui.

There was not a ripple in Emperor Liu's gaze—it was very calm. But facing this question, Luo Yangui responded with silence. After a long while, as if having undergone a very difficult psychological decision, Luo Yangui clasped his hands and said through gritted teeth: "Your Majesty, forgive your subject for speaking bluntly—we cannot continue. I am but a military man who knows little, but in those years, whether on southern campaigns or northern expeditions, at this season the entire army would also go into hibernation, waiting for the weather to warm.

Your subjects are willing to follow Your Majesty through fire and water, but this western inspection tour, though not a battle, has hardships of marching no less than combat. Non-combat casualties are already this great. I beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

"Rise!" Seeing that Luo Yangui's words were sincere, almost on the verge of tears, Emperor Liu smiled bitterly and sighed, then said: "It seems I was too self-assured, taking things for granted. Being obstinate in my decisions, not listening to my subjects' words, and causing the soldiers such needless casualties—this is my fault!"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Luo Yangui immediately comforted him: "Your Majesty need not blame yourself—it is we subjects who failed to do our part!"

This was where he differed from most military men. Luo Yangui was capable, had good judgment, knew how to speak, and often hit the mark just right.

"Make arrangements—I shall personally go to the camp to visit the soldiers!" Emperor Liu said in a deep voice.

"Yes!"

That very afternoon, Emperor Liu personally inspected the military camp, paying special attention to visiting those wounded and sick soldiers. Moved by the soldiers' hardships, he announced publicly on the spot: they would not continue on...

Emperor Liu was ultimately not a man who would hold stubbornly to the end. With the reality of the situation laid so clearly before him, he set aside his increasingly obstinate temper.

At the same time, it wasn't only the climate and the mood of the people he considered—his legs were also constantly reminding him not to be stubborn. Though Emperor Liu cared more and more about face, compared to the deep and timely pain his body was sending him, swallowing his earlier boastful words didn't seem so difficult after all...

What emperor doesn't have some embarrassing moments? Moreover, with a decision that followed the people's wishes, who would dare mock Emperor Liu for it?