Chapter 1612: The Relief Carvings

Bright winter sunlight spilled across Kaifeng, and the entire imperial city was bathed in a beautiful scene. Inside the Taiji Hall, the "clink-clank" of chiseling rang out without pause.

The Taiji Hall had originally been a disused palace that Emperor Liu had never once set foot in. However, over the past few months, the hall had become quite lively, and the once-empty interior was now packed full with stone panels.

At this moment, the hall was in a state of bustling activity—some were hauling stone materials, some were clearing away debris, and supervisors stood by watching. Of course, the main focus was a group of craftsmen diligently carving relief sculptures onto the stone walls.

The content depicted in the reliefs was a portrayal of Emperor Liu's political and military career spanning more than thirty years—a panoramic display of the Great Han's rise from emergence to strength, and also an interpretation of the changes of the times over those three decades.

This was clearly a major project, and one of great significance. What was hard for ordinary people to imagine was that it had been proposed by the Marquis of Yongle, Liu Chang, approved by Emperor Liu, ordered for construction by imperial decree, funded by the Court of the Imperial Treasury, and supervised by Liu Chang himself.

Clearly, Liu Chang had submitted this memorial and proposed this matter precisely because he had seized upon the occasion of Emperor Liu's birthday, seeking to please the crowd and curry favor with Emperor Liu. When Liu Chang had been sovereign of the Southern Yue, he had been wanton and cruel; after being captured and brought to the capital, he had shamelessly played the role of the "Marquis of Contentment," delighting in games and daily pursuing exotic tricks and clever contraptions, and he had also had some wildly imaginative ideas—but this proposal was the most proper one he had ever made.

Having unexpectedly won Emperor Liu's approval and been given the post of supervisor, Liu Chang was overjoyed, full of drive, and extremely earnest in his determination to complete the task.

From the selection of stone materials, he was meticulous about details; as for craftsmen, he had gathered all the skilled artisans of the Court of the Imperial Treasury and the Ministry of Works for screening. As for the content of the reliefs, they were created by the court painters, with the learned scholars and great historians of the Three Institutes and the Hanlin Academy all participating in guidance.

Clearly, if this set of reliefs in the Taiji Hall were completed, it would not merely sing the praises of Emperor Liu—it would also be a cultural treasure, condensing the painstaking efforts of the era's elite, and a microcosm of Emperor Liu's age.

As the supervisor, Liu Chang spent nearly day and night in the Taiji Hall. After several months, he, who had originally been fair-skinned and plump, had inevitably lost some weight.

When Emperor Liu, on a whim, set foot in the Taiji Hall, Liu Chang was just rolling up his sleeves and issuing orders, his voice somewhat loud and his tone impatient, seemingly dissatisfied with the progress of the project.

Liu Chang was so absorbed that he didn't even notice Emperor Liu approaching his side. He was holding a blueprint, comparing it against a finished carved screen wall, his expression very serious.

It was only when a nearby supervisor reminded him that he finally reacted. Turning his head, he saw Emperor Liu's smiling, kindly old face. Startled, Liu Chang recovered and hastily knelt in a flustered salute: "Your Majesty has arrived, and I failed to greet you from afar—I beg your forgiveness!"

Emperor Liu's expression was gentle, and he said with a light laugh: "Within this palace is my own home; when I walk about my house, why should you need to greet me? Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Some of the craftsmen nearby, upon seeing Emperor Liu, also stopped their work, setting down their carving knives and chisels to bow. Emperor Liu waved his hand and instructed: "Each of you, return to your duties and attend to your own tasks!"

Having said this, Emperor Liu smiled at Liu Chang and said: "I heard you were working with great fervor here, so I came specially to take a look—and indeed, it's true!"

Liu Chang immediately replied: "Your Majesty's visit to observe is our honor. We will spare no effort to carve the complete set of images!"

"How is the progress? When will it be finished?" Emperor Liu asked casually.

A trace of embarrassment flickered across Liu Chang's face, and he replied carefully: "To report to Your Majesty, we have currently carved up to the eleventh year of Qianyou. I am urging the craftsmen to hurry. At the current pace, it should be completed in another two months!"

Emperor Liu nodded, showing no dissatisfaction with the progress. He knew full well in his heart that of the more than thirty years he had sat on the throne governing, the essence was mostly concentrated in those fifteen years of the Qianyou era. For Emperor Liu, the people and events of that period were even more worthy of remembrance and recollection.

Walking over to the relief that Liu Chang had been comparing, the wall was of very large length-to-width proportions, with a standard frame, the corners decorated with fine patterns, and the content presented was even more vast and complex.

This was a panel of figures, and also a magnificent war tableau—golden spears and iron horses, long lances like a forest, formidable battlements, the figures lifelike, the momentum grand and sweeping. Gazing upon it, one could not help but be immersed, and Emperor Liu's thoughts also drifted, as if he had returned to those stirring years.

"This is the scene of the great battle at Nankou during the first northern expedition, isn't it?" Emperor Liu asked.

"Exactly so!" Liu Chang said: "This panel was carved by five skilled craftsmen over twenty days before it was completed. I was just making the final comparison!"

"You have indeed been diligent!" Emperor Liu's tone was full of emotion. He then walked to another finished stone wall and stopped to view it. What this wall depicted was also the great battle at Nankou, but the aftermath. In the image, Emperor Liu had come to the battlefield, accompanied by generals such as An Shenqi, facing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, gazing into the distance at the mountain passes, his boots and robes stained.

Another panel showed Emperor Liu visiting the wounded soldiers, and yet another showed Emperor Liu in his command tent discussing military matters with his generals...

Accompanied by Liu Chang, Emperor Liu walked and paused, following the reliefs and viewing them one by one, from the eleventh year of Qianyou all the way back to the first year of Qianyou.

Before the wall carving depicting Emperor Liu's enthronement ceremony, he lingered for an especially long time. That was the beginning of his imperial enterprise—in Chongyuan Hall, seated high upon the throne, the assembled ministers prostrating themselves, overlooking all living beings.

The Emperor Liu of that time was young, confident, and enterprising, and that soaring spirit nearly burst forth from the carving. The hundred officials and ministers, the founding meritorious followers—the figures were also carved lifelike. Emperor Liu saw too many old acquaintances. At that time, the one at the head of all officials was still Yang Bin, and the head of the military commanders was still Shi Hongzhao.

The Chongyuan Hall of that time was far less magnificent than the present one—without too much superfluous decoration, it even appeared crude, everything clean and neat, clear and distinct.

The foreign and tribal envoys attending the ceremony at that time numbered only a few. The Uyghurs of Ganzhou, for instance, had now vanished into the river of history, turned to dust, and were also recorded among Emperor Liu's great achievements.

He looked for a long time, thought for a long time, and Emperor Liu's eyes unknowingly began to redden. At fifty years of age, there was no question that Emperor Liu could be called old, and it was only in such moments of recalling the past that he would become so emotional...

"Your Majesty!" Seeing Emperor Liu in this state, Liu Chang grew somewhat nervous and asked hesitantly: "Is there some deficiency? I will order people to make corrections!"

"No, you have done very well, and the craftsmen have worked hard too!" Emperor Liu shook his head, took a silk handkerchief from Yan Tuo's hands, and gently wiped his eyes.

"Let's continue looking!" Having adjusted his mood, Emperor Liu instructed.

"Yes!"

The first year of Qianyou was naturally not where Emperor Liu's career began. Before that, there had been a period of turbulent and stirring times, also depicted on the stone walls.

His days as Crown Prince, his time as the Prince of Zhou in his private residence, the recovery of Hebei, the campaign out of Hedong, and even his inspection of the Longqi Army were all displayed. As for the Battle of Luancheng, it was the most glorious and dazzling moment of that period, and also the scene carved with the most detail.

However, what aroused Emperor Liu's puzzlement was one particular panel. The wall carving showed the city of Anyang, broken and dilapidated, full of desolation. Emperor Liu's great banner stood there, and beneath the banner was a Han general reporting something to Emperor Liu. Even in stone, the gravity of Emperor Liu's expression was vividly conveyed.

Beside them, officers and soldiers were busy clearing away corpses. Through the city gate, one could faintly see the piled-up bones within the city, a shocking sight. Separated by a dividing line, the other half of the panel showed Emperor Liu leading his officers and men in a memorial ceremony.

Memories surged forth like a tide, and the hazy impression gradually became clear. Emperor Liu said: "This is Anyang?"

"Exactly so!" Seeing Emperor Liu's interest, Liu Chang dared not be negligent and hurriedly reported: "At that time, the Khitan invaded the south and committed heinous crimes in our Central Plains. When they fled north, they were blocked at Anyang, and in their fury, they slaughtered all the righteous troops and common people in the city. Their beastly conduct was horrifying to hear, and it stirred the indignation of the soldiers and people of Hebei, who rose up in response, following Your Majesty to drive out the Khitan..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu sighed softly: "I remember now. That year in Anyang, we sorted out one hundred thousand sets of bones. At the time, I was puzzled—how could a small Anyang have so many people?

Only later did I realize that in this chaotic age, warfare never ceased, and when the Khitan came south, corpses littered the land. The bones in Anyang city could hardly have been left solely by Khitan slaughter.

The realm was in turmoil, the people could not be sure of surviving from morning to night, and those who met with disaster were too numerous to count. How many people died without even anyone to tend to their bodies..."

"If not for Your Majesty rolling up your sleeves and taking up arms to save the world and restore peace to the common people, how could the people of the Great Han enjoy such peaceful days as today?" Liu Chang could not help but flatter: "Your Majesty is truly a sage sovereign who saves the age..."

Hearing Liu Chang's naked flattery, Emperor Liu felt like laughing, but truly could not. After a moment of deliberation, he pointed at these stone walls and acknowledged: "What these stone carvings record is not only my history of founding an enterprise, but also the chronicle of great events of the Great Han. They are very meaningful. Not only should they be carved in the Taiji Hall—a set should also be made for the Gaoling mausoleum, so that in the future they may accompany me in my long rest!"

Liu Chang did not know how to respond to these words. Such things Emperor Liu could say, but he dared not casually discuss them, and only replied somewhat vaguely: "Yes!"

Emperor Liu sized up Liu Chang for a moment. He was also a man approaching forty now. At this time, Liu Chang was respectful, humble, and courteous, with a touch of unrestrained elegance—it was truly impossible to connect him with that wanton and cruel sovereign of the Southern Yue.

Emperor Liu's gaze always carried a kind of pressure, and under his scrutiny, Liu Chang could not help but show a hint of unease.

His smile still gentle, Emperor Liu said: "I heard that you have labored with heart and mind over these reliefs, forgetting to eat and sleep. Now I see that it is indeed so.

However, I cannot help but be curious—if back then you had been able to put this same seriousness and focus into governing the state and securing the people, who knows how much more trouble the court would have had to go through to pacify the two Guangs. Pan Mei would not have so easily fought his way into Guangzhou Prefecture!"

Hearing these words, Liu Chang immediately showed panic, both ashamed and nervous as he said: "Your Majesty, though I have been wanton and foolish, I also know that the unification of the realm is the trend of the times—how could it be swayed by whether a mere Liu Chang was wise or not?

Your Majesty is a sage sovereign ordained by heaven, destined to unite the world. When the imperial army marched south, I could only open the city gates and surrender, binding myself to beg for forgiveness, hoping for leniency.

In my youth I was dissolute and committed many absurd deeds, and I also offended Your Majesty's dignity. Fortunately, Your Majesty was magnanimous and did not hold it against me, instead bestowing honor and emolument upon me. I am truly moved to tears of gratitude.

I have long understood that I am only fit to be Your Majesty's subject. My presumptuous occupation of the throne of the Southern Yue was an inheritance from my late father, not my own wish. Only under Your Majesty's protection can I live out my days in peace..."

"Haha!" Hearing Liu Chang's nervous confession, Emperor Liu could not help but be amused, and for the first time patted him on the shoulder, saying: "Your reflection is not bad, and your understanding is quite clear. Rest assured, I will guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and honor."

"Your servant kowtows in thanks to Your Majesty!" Liu Chang nimbly knelt down again, his joy written all over his face.