Chapter 1394: The Yulin Dog-Meat Restaurant

As the two brothers chatted intimately, Yan Tuo came to the carriage to ask where they should head next. Emperor Liu lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the sky, saw the high sun at noon, and felt his stomach growl with hunger. He immediately ordered: "Find a place to eat!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo asked again: "What fare would Your Majesty desire?"

"Eating is eating—why speak of 'desire'!" Emperor Liu laughed and scolded, then said to Liu Chenghsun: "These men have spent too long in the palace; the way they talk has not a shred of flavor, not a trace of the mortal world!"

Liu Chenghsun also smiled: "The palace has strict rules; every word and deed follows etiquette. That the palace eunuchs hold reverence in their hearts is only to be understood!"

"Bai Yang!" Emperor Liu called out.

"Here!" The young military officer guarding the carriage with his men heard the call, swiftly approached, and bent low to receive the order.

A young man of humble origins from Guanzhong, he had now truly leaped over the dragon gate; his brow was full of heroic spirit, and having served in the imperial palace, steeped in its rules, his bearing was exceptionally proper.

"What meat do you like to eat?" Emperor Liu leaned by the carriage window and asked.

Bai Yang was somewhat puzzled, but after a moment's thought, replied with a trace of nostalgia: "When I was young in Binzhou, I once slaughtered a dog with my companions and shared it. Even now, I still savor the memory..."

"Good!" Emperor Liu decided on the spot, and said to Yan Tuo: "Does the Western Capital have any dog-meat restaurants? If so, find one. In all these years, I've truly never tasted dog meat!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo acknowledged, then looked toward Zhang Dejun.

The two head eunuchs usually had their share of conflicts and rivalries, but in such a situation, they were of one mind. Zhang Dejun gave Yan Tuo a confirming look, then went off to make arrangements.

In a place like Luoyang, what kind of restaurant was there not to be found? Though dog meat was not a common fare for the gentry and common folk alike, there were always those with a taste for it. Moreover, even if there were none, with Zhang Dejun and the resources of the Palace City Office, whatever sudden craving Emperor Liu developed, they could satisfy to perfection.

Under guards that were loose on the outside but tight within, the carriage moved off slowly, drawing not the slightest attention from the prefectural office. The onlookers gathered before the yamen gradually dispersed as well. As for Governor Zhao of Luoyang Prefecture, he returned to the inner hall and continued reviewing official documents, not even bothering with his midday meal. It was said that whenever Zhao Kuangyi handled official business, he often forgot to eat.

The place Zhang Dejun arranged was rather interesting—called the Yulin Dog-Meat Restaurant, located in Tongli Ward of the southern city, separated from the Southern Market, Luoyang's largest marketplace, by just one main street. It was said to be the finest dog-meat restaurant in the city, and so business was booming, with a steady stream of customers.

Zhang Dejun had everything arranged perfectly. When Emperor Liu and his party arrived, cooked meat and fine wine were already laid out on the food table. The two brothers enjoyed a fine meal; the flavor was excellent, and Emperor Liu, who rarely overindulged, ate a few extra bites.

Noticing Emperor Liu's satisfied expression, the attending Yan Tuo and Zhang Dejun were secretly pleased. Emperor Liu, however, looked at Bai Yang, who seemed somewhat ill at ease sharing a table with the imperial brothers, and asked: "How is it? Does it suit your taste?"

Bai Yang felt flattered and somewhat overwhelmed. Though he had served at Emperor Liu's side for only half a year, his horizons had broadened greatly. He knew what an honor it was to share a table with the Son of Heaven—even if only in such a modest inn. And while great figures of the Han palace like Yan Tuo and Zhang Dejun could only stand attentively by, he, a mere young guard officer, was permitted to sit. Alongside the honor, he could not help but feel uneasy.

Facing Emperor Liu's question, Bai Yang savored the flavor a moment, then revealed a simple, honest smile and replied: "The seasonings are excellent, and it is quite delicious. But somehow, it doesn't quite match the flavor of what I tasted in my youth..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu said: "It seems what lingers in your memory is not the taste of dog meat, but the joy of roaming and reveling with your youthful companions!"

"Your Majesty speaks truly! That must be it!" Bai Yang's face showed sudden realization, and then he rose and returned to his post on guard duty. Given his status, sitting at the same table as the Emperor and a Prince felt like sitting on a bed of needles; standing was far more comfortable.

"How can a flourishing age come without ample food and clothing? When the people of the Great Han have no worries about food and warmth, and have leisure to visit such restaurants and savor fine fare—then the Great Han will have ushered in its golden age!" Emperor Liu habitually let out such reflections.

Of course, these words were merely spoken in passing. After all these years, Emperor Liu had long held a very clear understanding: given the productive capacity of current society, wanting every person to have ample food and clothing was nothing short of a pipe dream.

No matter how prosperous the capital, it was hardly representative. And beyond the capital—not to mention the remote regions—even in traditionally "bountiful and prosperous" lands, there was no shortage of impoverished households struggling to fill their bellies.

Still, though it was a vain hope, such an aspiration to benefit all under heaven and achieve universal harmony was worthy of encouragement. Emperor Liu often spoke of it—to his consorts, to his children, to his ministers. It had become a habit...

"Under Second Brother's wise leadership, given time, that day will surely come!" Compared to Emperor Liu, Liu Chenghsun seemed far more confident, and replied thus.

Then he could not help but add with feeling: "But we must still give the people of the realm a peaceful environment—no heavy taxes pressing down, no wicked officials bullying them, so they can work in peace and produce steadily. Only then can universal harmony be achieved!"

Liu Chenghsun's view was somewhat one-sided, yet it represented the simple understanding of most current officials. In their eyes, achieving these things would mean peace under heaven.

"When I previously inspected Henan and Hebei, during the northern campaign, over five hundred crimes of various severity occurred across the regions. Public order deteriorated severely—provocations, bullying, and the oppression of women were too numerous to count. Even in the capital region, compared to previous years, death sentences increased by more than thirty cases." Liu Chenghsun said: "But once the northern campaign was won and the court turned its attention back to domestic affairs, the regions immediately settled down, and crime dropped sharply. This has left a deep impression on me!"

Liu Chenghsun now held the rank of Prince in court, overseeing the Ministry of Justice. Though he lacked the title of chancellor, he wielded the substance of one—indeed, in authority, he surpassed even the chancellors of the Hall of State Affairs. Nor had Liu Chenghsun betrayed the twenty-odd years of trust and cultivation Emperor Liu had invested in him; among the imperial clan of his generation, he was by far the most capable. After all, he was the Emperor's own blood brother—even a man of cold temperament like Emperor Liu trusted Liu Chenghsun more deeply in his heart.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu pointed out calmly: "This world has never lacked those with sinister designs. Such men fear nothing more than peace under heaven. In tranquil times, they can only lurk in the shadows; but once trouble arises, they leap out eagerly to commit crimes and break the law! It is human nature. Against such men, only harsh laws and severe punishments can serve as a warning to the world!"

Emperor Liu's words were ruthless and resolute, and his expression turned cold and stern. Seeing this, Liu Chenghsun opened his mouth, but in the end merely voiced agreement with his brother's remarks.

He had originally intended to use this opportunity to offer counsel to Emperor Liu on the matter of sentencing standards in the Great Han's penal code. Over more than twenty years, the Han penal code had undergone several revisions and, by now, had gradually become more complete. On the whole, it was evolving in a rational direction.

The early Han laws could only be described as harsh—severe corporal punishment, with death sentences handed down at the slightest provocation. Compared to those days, the current laws were far more merciful. But even so, some punishments remained overly severe. Though many criminals ultimately received sentences of exile, partly out of consideration for boosting the population, the interrogation process before sentencing often involved severe corporal punishment.

There were also voices within the court saying that the severity of Han punishments rivaled that of the Kaihuang era, and suggesting that Emperor Liu extend further mercy, raise sentencing standards, and slightly relax penalties. But Emperor Liu had rejected all such suggestions. His attitude toward criminals had always been harsh; his grace was reserved solely for law-abiding citizens, and criminals were never treated as ordinary people.

In over twenty years of Emperor Liu's reign, though there had been instances of clemency beyond the law, there had never been a single imperial edict of general amnesty. His aversion to criminals was plain to see.

"Of the meats consumed by the capital's people, which is the most expensive?" Emperor Liu picked up a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, then looked at Zhang Dejun and asked.

Knowing that Emperor Liu was concerning himself with the people's livelihood again, Zhang Dejun answered quickly: "Among the common meats of the Western Capital, beef is the most expensive!"

Emperor Liu nodded, then asked: "What meat do the people love most?"

"Mutton!" Zhang Dejun said: "However, over the past half year, mutton prices in the Western Capital have remained stubbornly high, and many ordinary households can no longer afford it!"

"Why?" Emperor Liu asked instinctively.

"In the past, a great portion of the Western Capital's mutton was traded from the north! But last year, when the Great Han launched its northern campaign, the two states were at war on all fronts, and transport routes were severed. Naturally, the mutton supply was affected..."

The moment Zhang Dejun explained, Emperor Liu understood immediately. After a moment's thought, he chuckled lightly: "Clearly, not everyone supported the Great Han's northern campaign. At the very least, the sheep merchants whose profits were hit, and the common folk forced to endure high meat prices, would have their grievances!"

"Second Brother speaks too strongly!" Liu Chenghsun said: "Even in the capital, not every household enjoys meat daily. Moreover, with mutton prices high, there are still chicken, duck, fish, and pork as substitutes. Still, the capital's people do have a true fondness for mutton!"

"Excellent!" Emperor Liu smiled slightly and pointed into the distance northward: "At the very least, the northern grasslands have become even more valuable to the Great Han. Establishing pastoral offices to supply the Great Han with cattle, horses, sheep, and camels would benefit both the state and the people! Even if only so that the capital's people can afford cheap mutton, the Monan grasslands must be firmly held in the court's grasp!"