Chapter 1357: Returning to Court with the Army

On the 17th day of the 11th month of winter in the eighth year of Kaibao, braving the wind and cold, after a journey that was hardly comfortable, the Crown Prince's entourage finally returned to Youzhou. When Emperor Liu learned of this, he specially ordered an Academician of the Grand Secretariat to represent him and welcome them ten li outside the city.

Though it was already deep winter, with the ground frozen and the weather bitter, Youzhou, as the center of the Youyan region, had gradually regained its vitality. On the official road, travelers came and went in great numbers, and the post station by the roadside was bustling with activity.

"We respectfully welcome Your Highness!"

"Academician Zhang, please rise! The weather is so cold—thank you for coming in person to welcome me!" Toward this newly favored close minister of Emperor Liu, Liu Yang's attitude was very mild, and he personally descended from the carriage to receive him.

"Your Highness took no pains to personally oversee affairs in Liaodong—your ministers are full of admiration. Now that you have returned in triumph, it is only proper that we welcome you. Moreover, with His Majesty's decree, I dare not be remiss!" Zhang Yong's attitude was even more respectful.

Though it was an inexplicable feeling, Liu Yang sensed that after the tempering of this northern expedition, these ministers' attitudes toward him had gained another measure of respect—no longer merely because of his status as Crown Prince.

"Academician Zhang, you need not stand on ceremony!" Liu Yang smiled, his gaze falling on the magnificently dressed youth standing beside Zhang Yong. "Tenth Brother, you came too?"

The youth was none other than the Tenth Prince, Liu Zhao. His handsome face was flushed red from the wind. Upon being asked, he revealed a reserved smile and replied, "Academician Zhang came on Father's behalf, and I came on Mother's behalf to welcome Second Brother!"

Hearing this, Liu Yang's gaze could not help but soften, and his heart grew even more eager to return—he had also heard of the Empress's illness. He beckoned to Liu Zhao and said, "It's cold out there—come up into the carriage!"

"Yes!" Liu Zhao hesitated for a brief moment, then stepped forward.

Turning his gaze back to Zhang Yong, Liu Yang's tone grew somewhat more serious: "I must trouble Academician Zhang to immediately lead me to pay respects to His Majesty!"

"As you command!" Zhang Yong replied at once. Though he had made some arrangements of his own, seeing the Crown Prince's urgency, he went along with it.

Inside the spacious, comfortable carriage, soft blankets were laid out and a warm brazier burned, making it very warm—even in this bitter cold weather, it brought a sense of comfort and security.

Liu Yang leaned back gently, exuding an ever greater air of authority. Though he had rarely faced danger in battle during the northern expedition, with nearly a year of tempering, that originally reserved nature of his seemed to have acquired a hint of sharpness.

It could be said that the Crown Prince of today finally deserved to be called—resembling his father!

And perhaps intimidated by Liu Yang's authority, after getting on the carriage, Liu Zhao sat quietly to one side, posture proper, pressed almost against the door curtain as if ready to flee the carriage at any moment, his fingers lightly twisting the corner of his sleeve.

"Tenth Brother, sit here—why sit so far away!" Seeing this, Liu Yang patted the cushion beside him.

Liu Zhao looked up at Liu Yang, whose face was full of gentle warmth, showed obvious hesitation, then still shifted his seat closer to Liu Yang, lowered his head, and said nothing.

"How is Mother's health?" Liu Yang asked.

"The imperial physicians have treated her, and after recuperating these past days, she is already much better!" Liu Zhao replied in a small voice.

"I've been away this past year, absorbed in military and state affairs. When Mother fell ill, I could not personally attend to her medicine. In the future, I fear I will be occupied with matters of state and have little leisure—I'll need you to serve at Mother's side and fulfill filial duty on my behalf!" Liu Yang said with some emotion.

"Mm! I know!" Liu Zhao looked up at Liu Yang again and nodded in reply.

Liu Zhao kept his head down, unable to squeeze out more than a few words even with his mouth open. At this, Liu Yang could not help but feel speechless, momentarily at a loss for what to say. With a few bitter smiles, Liu Yang said, "Tenth Brother, we are full brothers born of the same mother. You are growing up day by day—if anything comes up in the future, you can come straight to me!"

"Yes!" Liu Zhao replied respectfully.

Seeing his behavior, Liu Yang ultimately let out a deep sigh. Clearly they were brothers born of the same mother, yet they were so distant, as if a mountain stood between them. It had to be said, because of his early maturity, having left the schoolroom too soon to participate in state affairs, Liu Yang had nearly developed a generation gap with his younger brothers.

Liu Yang was not a man of iron heart. Though Emperor Liu had trained him to be ever more rational and capable, his nature was benevolent, his heart soft, and he valued family ties. But the longer he sat in the position of Crown Prince, the further many things drifted from him.

In the Youzhou traveling palace, Emperor Liu received Liu Yang and his party at the very first opportunity. With a great laugh, he personally helped up Liu Yang, Zhao Kuangyin, and Gao Huaide as they knelt in obeisance: "If you hadn't returned soon, I would have left you behind and gone back to the capital myself!"

Emperor Liu made a joke—of course it was a joke. The affairs of the north had been arranged as much as they needed to be; all that remained was for the civil and military officials below to handle. The reason Emperor Liu was still lingering in Youzhou was precisely to wait for Liu Yang and the others.

"We were delayed some days in Liaoyang—I have kept Your Majesty waiting long!" Liu Yang stated formally.

Seeing the increasingly composed Crown Prince, Emperor Liu was somewhat pleased and said, "Are the affairs of Liaodong all settled?"

Liu Yang clasped his hands: "Before I returned, I gave full instructions to the civil and military officials of Liaodong. With the two officials Song and Ma, the situation in Liaodong should remain stable!"

Patting Liu Yang on the shoulder as encouragement, Emperor Liu then looked at the two men Zhao and Gao and laughed: "In this northern expedition, it was the Liaodong battlefield that achieved the most brilliant results—this is all the merit of you two ministers!"

Zhao Kuangyin was good with words and immediately said, "Without the Crown Prince's overall coordination and dispatch, without Your Majesty and the court's full support, without the three armies' officers and men giving their all—how could today's results have been achieved? We truly dare not claim the credit!"

"Minister Zhao is being modest again!" Emperor Liu's words carried a smile throughout; he was clearly in a good mood. Pointing at Liu Yang, he said, "Overall planning is certainly important, but in the end, victory on the battlefield depends on the frontline generals' command. The Crown Prince is young and has never had experience commanding troops. If not for you two ministers, how could I have felt at ease with the Liaodong military affairs and remained secure in the rear?"

Emperor Liu's words were courteous. If he had truly been completely at ease, why would he have toured the north, stayed in the Youzhou area for months, and even hunted west at Shanyang to supervise the campaign from nearby? These words were half true, half false—merely giving face to Zhao and Gao.

Hearing this, Gao Huaide clasped his hands and said, "Though the Crown Prince is young, he is magnanimous in bearing, humble and tolerant of others, and extremely capable in style. The officers and men obey him. With this great army gathered at Liaodong, without His Highness coordinating from within, it would have been difficult to unite superiors and subordinates in one heart and one mind to fight for the nation!"

Emperor Liu looked at Liu Yang, his kindly gaze brimming with smiles, and said, "You see—both marshals have a very high opinion of you!"

Liu Yang immediately clasped his hands modestly: "It is all the favor of the two lords. Were it not for the assistance of Lords Zhao and Gao, with my abilities, I truly could not have borne the weight of the Liaodong military affairs!"

"Enough! Let's dispense with the pleasantries!" Emperor Liu waved his hand. "Overall, I am very satisfied with the situation in Liaodong and with your performance. As for merits and faults, there will be a proper verdict once we return to court—you need not be so self-deprecating!"

"We thank Your Majesty!" The three bowed again.

"The journey was tiring. I've prepared some wine and food—let us eat and talk, consider it a welcome banquet for you. As for the victory celebration, we'll hold that after returning to the capital!" Emperor Liu said.

"Yes!"

From the start of the audience, Emperor Liu had already mentioned returning to the capital twice. Clearly, Emperor Liu was also eager to return home and unwilling to linger long in Youzhou. He was an emperor who loved to tour, and each time he went out, he stayed a considerable while—but likewise, once time stretched on, he began to "miss home."

A bout of drinking washed away the wind and chill. Slightly tipsy, the first thing Liu Yang did upon leaving the banquet was not to rest, but to go to the Empress's bedchamber to pay his respects.

The elder Lady Fu had clearly been waiting for a long time, having ordered some ginger soup prepared. The Empress's complexion had indeed improved greatly, but she still could not avoid looking haggard, and had visibly aged considerably.

Seeing his mother in such a state, Liu Yang's heart was deeply moved. He knelt down very directly, threw himself into the elder Lady Fu's arms, and repeatedly confessed his faults, saying he had been unfilial.

During this period, the elder Lady Fu seemed somewhat sensitive as well. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she managed to hold them back and said, "A dignified Crown Prince, who has commanded an army of several hundred thousand to victory—how can you be so weak, putting on the airs of a little girl!"

Liu Yang evidently could not hold his emotions together either. He straightened up, wiped the corner of his eyes, and said with a bitter smile, "Your son has lost his composure!"

Gazing at the elder Lady Fu's face, Liu Yang said with concern, "I heard you were unwell—I have been deeply worried!"

"It's nothing. Old age brings weakness; it's no matter. You need not worry!" the elder Lady Fu replied, helping Liu Yang up. "The floor is cold—don't kneel. Get up and speak!"

"Yes!" Liu Yang rose.

Looking Liu Yang over, the elder Lady Fu sighed: "You've grown thinner again!"

At this moment, Liu Yang did indeed look somewhat disheveled—dark circles under his eyes, his face not carefully groomed, stubble spreading around his lips.

On the 19th day of the 11th month of the eighth year of Kaibao, Emperor Liu issued a decree: the imperial carriage formally departed from Youzhou to return to the capital, bearing the achievements of the northern expedition, returning with honor.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

It's the end of the year, my personal state isn't right, my laziness has increased, and my updates have been lacking—please forgive me.