Chapter 1507: Return to Dongjing

On the twelfth day of the eighth month, the imperial carriage arrived at the Eastern Capital. After years away, Emperor Liu had returned once more. The Eastern Capital's prosperity was just as in years past, as if nothing had ever changed—still the familiar scene.

However, the atmosphere was ultimately somewhat unusual—tight security, strict control over entry and exit. This was not simply due to the imperial tour east, but because of the epidemic, which demanded serious attention and control over the movement of people.

After all, for a city as densely populated and heavily trafficked as the Eastern Capital, the threat of epidemic was enormous. Once it broke out, it could easily spread to tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands.

Therefore, when news of the epidemic outbreak in the disaster zones arrived, it brought considerable negative impact to the Eastern Capital, especially toward the refugees settled in the eastern part of the city, who were feared like tigers.

As early as when the floods were raging, refugees from various prefectures had fled to Kaifeng begging for food. Governor Lü Yin took this very seriously, specially ordering a site to be opened in the eastern part of the city to house and treat them—entering the city itself was out of the question.

In total, over twenty thousand people were taken in. Only when the rains stopped and the floods receded did the refugees begin to leave gradually under official guidance.

But before these people could be cleared out, epidemics broke out in Chanzhou, Puzhou, and elsewhere, causing great commotion. The refugees outside Kaifeng's walls were even more regarded as birds of ill omen, greatly despised and ostracized, seen as bringers of misfortune.

Though one group was inside the city and the other outside the walls, separated by high walls and deep ditches, the instinctive selfishness of human nature could not be overcome. Even though the refugees outside the city were strictly constrained, even though no one had actually been infected, many in Kaifeng still heaped blame upon them.

As Emperor Liu knew, some gentry and commoners of the Eastern Capital had previously petitioned the Kaifeng government jointly, hoping to drive away all the remaining refugees outside the walls, lest they bring disaster to the entire city's populace.

Such requests truly represented the voice of no small number of people. If there were no trouble, they could look upon those refugees with pity, even with an attitude of watching from a safe distance. But once risk appeared, they would reject and abandon them without any reason.

Public sentiment surged and clamored loudly. Fortunately, Governor of Kaifeng Lü Yin was a strong-willed and level-headed man who was not pressured by public opinion. He merely issued an official notice explaining the situation, and additionally strengthened control and management over epidemic prevention matters.

As for driving people away—with Lü Yin's shrewdness, how could he possibly do such a thing, nor would he compromise just because the gentry and commoners of the Eastern Capital made some noise. Expelling refugees had indeed happened in the Great Han before, but one would have to trace back to twenty-five years ago at the founding of the dynasty. At that time, even the imperial army had been deployed to intercept and block refugees from all directions. But that was when Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan was on the throne, and Emperor Liu was not even the Crown Prince then.

And in Emperor Liu's era, such a thing had never happened. For disaster victims and refugees, the approach was always relief and rescue first—this was both a principle and a bottom line. Lü Yin knew this very well in his heart.

Speaking of it, the tenth year of Kaibao was, for the people of Kaifeng, the most terrifying year in two decades. The Bian River surging, epidemics ravaging the Central Plains—these were things that threatened them directly. Fortunately, there was fright but no harm.

The high-level security lockdown had already been in place for over a month, and had originally eased somewhat, but with Emperor Liu's arrival, it was strengthened again. The air was already filled with the fragrance of flatbreads and osmanthus cakes—after all, the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. No matter the circumstances, life had to go on, and festivals had to be celebrated.

Emperor Liu's return to the Eastern Capital this time caused quite a stir. Some people's reactions were exaggerated to the point of weeping tears of joy. For many long-time residents of Kaifeng, this was the return of their "kind father." To share a city with the Emperor, to feel the imperial grace and favor up close—this was the glory of the capital's people, what made their backs straight, what made them worthy of the name "Eastern Capital."

Some excessive displays even made Emperor Liu feel a bit embarrassed, and he couldn't help wondering whether Lü Yin had specially arranged this. However, recalling this man's consistently practical style, he suppressed this speculation, simply taking it that the gentry and commoners of the Eastern Capital had long yearned for imperial grace and were overcome with emotion.

Feeling the enthusiasm of the Eastern Capital's gentry and commoners, Emperor Liu even rarely stepped out of the imperial carriage, standing before the carriage shaft, enjoying the people's cheers while waving to them in greeting.

This was something Emperor Liu had often done in the past, and now resuming the old skill, it was still as smooth and natural as ever. A warm smile perpetually lingered at the corners of his mouth, and the effect was naturally excellent. Even by the time he reached the imperial city, the fervent atmosphere in the city had not subsided. It seemed that toward the imperial visit east, Kaifeng's gentry and commoners were indeed full of anticipation and enthusiasm.

"The Eastern Capital—I haven't returned for so many years. It seems there haven't been too many changes!" Before the towering Kaifeng imperial city, Emperor Liu descended from the carriage, stood in the palace square, gazed at the magnificent city towers, and sighed with emotion.

Approaching a coiling-dragon pillar, Emperor Liu reached out and gently stroked it. The patterns on the pillar's surface already bore the vicissitudes of time. Emperor Liu said, "These pillars standing like a forest—they feel so familiar!"

"The Eastern Capital is always ready to welcome Your Majesty's presence. We have never slackened in the repair and maintenance of the palace!" Lü Yin, who had been specially summoned to attend the Emperor, responded from the side.

Emperor Liu nodded, thought for a moment, and seeing the diverse crowd in the square, waved his hand: "Zhao Pu and Lü Yin shall attend me. The rest of you, return to your duties and settle in!"

"Yes!"

"No need for the carriage—I'll walk and look around!" Waving off the imperial carriage again, Emperor Liu, accompanied by Zhao Pu, Lü Yin, and a few attendants and guards, passed slowly through the city gate, strolling at leisure.

Clearly, the Eastern Capital had made thorough preparations for receiving the imperial visit. The palace buildings had been renovated anew, just as they were when Emperor Liu had last been there.

"Those are all lime, aren't they?" Walking on the imperial road, Emperor Liu looked around and pointed at some traces on the ground and walls, asking Lü Yin.

Lü Yin said, "To answer Your Majesty, indeed they are! With epidemics raging in Chanzhou, Puzhou, and other prefectures, and Kaifeng so close at hand, we must guard against it and strictly control prevention. Throughout the city, lime has been applied to walls and scattered on the ground to eliminate pestilence and prevent epidemics..."

As he spoke, Lü Yin also gave a brief report on Kaifeng's epidemic prevention measures during this period. Overall, they had been carried out on a grand scale with notable results.

"Clearly, the Eastern Capital's various efforts have been handled very thoroughly!" Emperor Liu smiled and said to Zhao Pu on the other side.

Zhao Pu revealed a reserved smile and echoed, "Lord Lü is one of the Great Han's rare capable officials, truly reassuring! During this period, I have received reports from various regions, many pleading for help and relief—only the Eastern Capital not only handles everything in perfect order but also provides strong support, cooperating with the court in fighting the epidemic and providing disaster relief..."

Zhao Pu's words were also a bit of flattery. What kind of place was the Eastern Capital? It possessed abundant resources, and these responsibilities and obligations were things it must bear.

Doing well was expected and could earn praise; if it did poorly and any oversight occurred, then there would be accountability—severe accountability.

Lü Yin naturally knew this in his heart and hurriedly said, "Chancellor Zhao flatters me. These are all duties that should be fulfilled and obligations that should be met—truly not worth mentioning!"

"Yuqing, before me, there's no need to be so modest!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but laugh, addressing him familiarly by his courtesy name: "Being able to manage a city as vast as the Eastern Capital well is a demonstration of ability. I heard that recently, public sentiment within the city was disturbed and quite unsettled—how is the situation now?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yin said, "Your Majesty, the common people are ignorant. With epidemics ravaging the Central Plains, unease is inevitable. Some overreactions are only normal. One only needs to counsel them well, guide and educate, and soothe the people's hearts."

"Many court officials lack your capacity for understanding! Many people, when faced with problems, use crude methods—only intimidating with authority and forcefully suppressing, without understanding the conditions below or adapting flexibly!" Emperor Liu sighed, his words not lacking in praise: "No wonder when you left your post in Liangzhe, so many people tried to keep you, even building a living shrine for you!"

"It was all the people's great affection—I am truly ashamed!" Lü Yin said.

"Haha! Being modest again..."

Zhao Pu followed alongside, silently listening to the intimate exchange between ruler and minister. His expression was calm and indifferent, but his peripheral vision kept observing Lü Yin, and deep in his eyes emerged a barely perceptible wariness.

He couldn't help but wonder—after this imperial tour east, would the Emperor transfer Lü Yin back to the central government? For the court's high-ranking officials, Lü Yin becoming chancellor was basically a foregone conclusion—it was only a matter of sooner or later.

And as time passed, that "sooner or later" was drawing ever closer to being broken. One should know that Lü Yin was already Governor of Kaifeng and concurrently Defender of the Eastern Capital—this was the highest-ranking substantive position among local officials. The only further step was a seat in the Hall of State Affairs.

Zhao Pu knew this clearly and had long prepared himself mentally for having such a person come to the central government to share power. But even if the tide could not be reversed, there was inevitably some wariness in his heart. Especially during his time partnering with Wang Qiwu, he had become extremely wary of these old associates around Emperor Liu.

To be fair, whether in background or seniority, Lü Yin far surpassed him, Zhao Pu, and was far deeper as well. If not for Lü Yin having been delayed by observing mourning for his father, the one serving as Chief Chancellor and managing state affairs today would likely have long been Chancellor Lü.

Of course, the two were not without common ground—both had "switched paths midway," both relying on their existing reputations to be discovered and promoted by Emperor Liu.

While Emperor Liu conversed with Lü Yin, Zhao Pu beside them was already pondering—when Lü Yin entered the chancellorship, how should he conduct himself and govern in relation to him...