Chapter 1395: The Bottom Rung

Rarely going out for a pleasure trip, Emperor Liu naturally wouldn't spend all his time in an eatery. After a hearty meal, he left for the next stop—the South Market was right next door, so it was naturally the first destination.

In front of the eatery, just about to board the carriage, Emperor Liu turned back to look at the signboard. The five characters seemed to radiate a fierce, aggressive air, as if dogs were barking. Emperor Liu beckoned Zhang Dejun over and asked, "Dog meat isn't like chicken, duck, pork, or mutton—where does this establishment get the meat dogs it slaughters daily? Do you know?"

"This... forgive me, I do not know!" Zhang Dejun replied.

"Oh? So there's something even you, Commissioner Zhang, don't know?" Emperor Liu asked with curiosity.

Emperor Liu might have just been joking, but Zhang Dejun didn't dare take it lightly, and immediately said, "I'll send someone to investigate at once!"

"No need to make a big fuss—I was just asking casually! Earlier, Bai Yang mentioned that in the countryside, dog theft is quite common..." Emperor Liu said leisurely. "If there's anything involved, just notify the Luoyang Prefecture. Even for petty thieves and scoundrels, Zhao Kuangyi should be interested!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun acknowledged.

When the Emperor graces a place with his presence, even if it's an incognito visit, the ground he treads upon is blessed ground—even if it brings no fortune, at least no disaster will befall it. However, the owner of this dog meat restaurant could hardly know that Emperor Liu, after thoroughly enjoying a meal of dog meat, would turn around and cause trouble for him with a single sentence, not caring whether it would ruin his establishment...

By the time they finished browsing the South Market, dusk was approaching. Having once again experienced the noise and splendor of the bustling market, Emperor Liu's energy seemed noticeably diminished.

A trace of fatigue appeared on his face, but what made people inwardly wonder more was Emperor Liu's not-so-cheerful expression. Liu Chenghsun took the initiative to ask, "Second Brother, I see your spirits aren't high. If you're tired, please return to the palace!"

Strolling along the streets, with warm gentle breezes and green willows lining both sides forming shade, the street scenes were not only bustling but also somewhat pleasant—especially for Emperor Liu.

Noticing the cautious gazes of Liu Chenghsun and the others, Emperor Liu waved his hand and said with a light laugh, "I'm not bothered by you all. I've gone out on trips more than once or twice. Scenes like these—streets and alleys, prosperous appearances—I've seen plenty, so I've grown accustomed to them, and my interest has waned!"

"If Second Brother finds it dull, I can have someone arrange something else. There are still many places worth visiting in the Western Capital!" Liu Chenghsun said.

Emperor Liu pondered for a moment, then suddenly pointed out, "In the capital, not everyone is wealthy or well-off. There must be no small number of impoverished people! I want to go see for myself!"

"Your Majesty, those places are a mix of dragons and snakes—all sorts of unsavory characters. Your person is of the utmost preciousness; it's truly unsuitable for you to go in person. If you wish to learn about it, you could summon someone to inquire..." Hearing this, Zhang Dejun advised.

"No!" Emperor Liu was now in high spirits and said stubbornly, "I've seen enough of singing and dancing, peace and prosperity, noise and splendor. I want to see for myself what kind of life the lower-class commoners live!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun was somewhat helpless. His reason for stopping Emperor Liu was genuinely concern for his safety, with no other thoughts.

Liu Chenghsun, on the other hand, greatly approved of his imperial brother's idea: "With Second Brother caring for the common folk and concerning himself with the people's livelihood like this, how could the nation not prosper, and how could the people not be at peace!"

"It's not to that extent! You don't need to flatter me—hearing too much of it makes me feel ashamed!" Emperor Liu smiled, then waved to his attendants: "Let's move on!"

Luoyang was vast, with countless grand buildings, and it too had its noble and base, its rich and poor. The city's management system had made tremendous progress and changes compared to the past—more open, more free—and the most notable feature was that the boundaries between wards and markets had been completely broken down, bringing about enormous transformations within Luoyang city.

However, some situations hadn't changed much. For instance, places closer to the imperial city tended to have nobles clustered together and high officials gathered in droves—especially south of the imperial city, on both sides of the Heavenly Street.

East of the imperial city was also mostly wealthy. As for the "slum district" Emperor Liu wanted to see, it was located in the southeast of the city. It wasn't as dirty, messy, or crime-ridden as one might imagine—the capital's government had always been very strict about urban sanitation and public security management.

Especially recently, since Zhao Kuangyi took office, the management requirements had been raised even higher. The clerks and constables under the Luoyang Prefecture were all on alert, diligently performing their duties, and wouldn't relax in the short term.

However, just as Zhang Dejun said, it was very mixed—dragons and snakes intermingled, people of all trades and stations, all sorts of characters. Not only local families, but also transient residents, with accents from all over the realm, curling cooking smoke, roosters crowing and dogs barking, children playing—compared to those cold, stern noble residential areas, this place clearly had more atmosphere and felt more real.

Emperor Liu made a circuit, saying nothing, bringing only a pair of eyes and a pair of ears, silently observing and listening. It wasn't so coincidental that he happened to witness any bullying of the market or oppression of the people—it passed by quite peacefully. Everything looked neither too good nor too bad; the common folk mostly went out early and returned late, struggling to survive in the imperial capital, yet it wasn't so terrible—after all, it was the capital.

Of course, where there was a bright and prosperous side, there was inevitably a dark and cold side—it was just that Emperor Liu couldn't see it all yet. Before leaving, he did encounter something that piqued his interest.

In a not-so-wide alley, a strange odor permeated the air—the smell of excrement. Watching the night-soil carts gradually recede under the escort of several laborers, Emperor Liu asked, "I hear that the disposal of human and animal waste in the capital has become a business?"

This matter naturally fell to Zhang Dejun to answer. Although discussing such filth with the Emperor felt somewhat awkward, since Emperor Liu was interested, he didn't dare not answer.

"To answer Your Majesty, yes! The capital has over a million officials and commoners—the disposal of human and animal waste is a problem that must be solved. To maintain the cleanliness of the capital, the government cannot tolerate filth filling the city and stench reaching the heavens, so management regulations have been issued repeatedly!

As early as in Kaifeng, people began going door to door, cleaning out cesspits for the citizens of the Eastern Capital. The collected waste was filth within the city, but to farmers outside the city, it was excellent fertilizer.

Through this method, one could both collect service fees from the city's residents and make money by selling the waste—so quite a few people profited from it! And those doing this work gradually increased, with many followers, and later it spread widely—Luoyang was the same.

Up to now, in every ward and every lane of the Western Capital, including the public latrines built by the government, there are people specifically responsible for cleaning and transporting. It's said that just within the Western Capital, nearly two thousand people are engaged in this trade, each forming their own factions, even fighting over it. Some have even specially developed methods for preserving and processing the waste..."

"In three hundred and sixty trades, every trade has its master!" After hearing his account, Emperor Liu muttered, but his expression appeared very kind: "Excellent! Though working with filth invites contempt, being able to earn money to support one's family, make a living, and contribute to the capital's cleanliness—that deserves recognition!"

For Emperor Liu, compared to the prosperous scenes he'd seen earlier, such small details clearly stirred more reflection in him. In Emperor Liu's vague memories, the waste business had truly become large-scale rather late, but in his Great Han dynasty, it had already developed to such a degree—this naturally represented a kind of progress.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late. I humbly request that we return to the palace!" Seeing that Emperor Liu's mood had improved, with a visible smile on his face, Zhang Dejun respectfully requested.

"No rush!" Emperor Liu's interest hadn't waned. After a moment's consideration, he said directly, "Go to the Duke of Ying's residence!"

"I've been saying I wanted to visit him and check on his illness, but I never got around to it. Since we have the opportunity today, let's go along!" Emperor Liu said to Liu Chenghsun: "We brothers should go see Guo Rong together!"

"Yes! The Duke of Ying is a pillar minister of the Great Han, with outstanding merits and devoted service. I've always held him in high regard—visiting him to check on his illness is only proper!" Liu Chenghsun immediately expressed.

Boarding the carriage and taking his seat, Emperor Liu let out another heavy sigh. Seeing this, Liu Chenghsun couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, is the Duke of Ying's condition very serious?"

Emperor Liu sighed deeply: "Illness from overwork, difficult to cure. After all these years, the founding heroes, the veteran ministers—one by one they've left me. I truly don't want to lose another loyal minister, another dear friend. Time presses on, what can be done..."

Emperor Liu's emotional words—one could only say they were half true, half false.