Chapter 164: Overseeing the State

In the first year of Qianyou, on the first day of the first month, it was a day of celebration. The citizens of the Eastern Capital welcomed the new year with joy. Though poor, the common folk still donned clean new clothes. However, the court had banned alcohol and restricted markets, so within and without the city walls, much of the festive fun was diminished. Still, it was the new year after all, and the people all hoped for a fresh start.

For the Great Han court, stepping into the new year opened a new chapter, and the first order of business was the grand ceremony to enshrine the Crown Prince. In Chongyuan Hall, colored ribbons were tied everywhere, the imperial ceremonial guard was arrayed in the courtyard, and at the four corners stood the "Hall-Guarding Generals" alongside the stalwart soldiers of the Palace Command in full uniform. Civil and military officials all wore their ceremonial caps and court robes, while military governors from the various prefectures, memorial clerks, and foreign envoys observed the proceedings...

Everything looked proper enough on the surface, but in truth it was a motley affair, with a sense of a monkey trying to wear a crown. With rites and music having been in ruin for so long, the "quality" of the Great Han courtiers was about what one would expect. As long as everyone thought it was fine, they could simply amuse themselves.

The ceremony was presided over by Zhang Zhao, the Grand Master of Ceremonies. Though the rites had been simplified, it still lasted a considerable time, and fortunately everything went smoothly. But then Liu Zhiyuan could no longer hold on—even the first grand court assembly of the first year of Qianyou could not proceed without incident. Liu Zhiyuan's body simply could not bear it; he had barely managed to endure the Crown Prince's enshrinement ceremony. The sight of him trembling, supported back to the inner palace by palace eunuchs, was witnessed by many.

For the Great Han court, the first day of the new year brought no small amount of hidden worry. Certain ill omens left many courtiers uneasy at heart.

Before Wansui Hall, Liu Chengyou and a host of ministers waited in silence. His expression was grave, with no joy visible on his face at having secured the position of heir apparent. The ministers beside him all wore worried looks, unable to resist whispering among themselves, expressing their concern for Liu Zhiyuan.

"You are chancellors and cabinet ministers—you should set an example for the court! Whispering and muttering before the hall, looking about in hesitation, stirring up unrest—what kind of decorum is this?!" Suddenly, Yang Bin stepped to the front and berated the assembled ministers.

Liu Chengyou's brow furrowed slightly. He cast a sidelong glance at Yang Bin, seeing his stern, unyielding expression. He calmly withdrew his gaze.

However, Yang Bin's scolding only provoked resentment among the ministers. Were they not all high officials of the court? Who was Yang Bin to be so arrogant?

Su Fengji immediately shot back: "We are subjects who serve our sovereign with utmost loyalty. His Majesty is unwell, and we are worried—what is wrong with that?"

Then, sweeping his gaze across the assembled officials, he added in a mocking tone: "Some people are arrogant and overbearing, shouting loudly before His Highness—now that is a breach of decorum."

Unfortunately, he received no support. Everyone was too clever for that. When it came to butting heads with Yang Bin, Su Fengji alone was enough.

"You go too far!" Yang Bin was thoroughly enraged.

"You go too far!" Su Fengji's eyes widened. He clasped his hands toward Liu Chengyou, then fixed his glare on Yang Bin: "The Crown Prince hasn't said a word, yet you, Chancellor Yang, for all your high position and great power, clearly have no sense of rank or propriety!"

Su Fengji was directly wrapping himself in Liu Chengyou's tiger skin, with a look of petty triumph. This Su Fengji—if used to counter Yang Bin, he was indeed a fine choice.

Yang Bin opened his mouth, then instinctively glanced at Liu Chengyou, only to see his calm, handsome profile, as placid as still water.

"Gentlemen, both of you, say a little less." At this moment, Su Yugui stepped forward, once again playing the good-natured peacemaker, smoothing things over.

Just then, Lady Li walked out. Still in her full ceremonial attire, she swept her gaze across the hall with a solemn expression, her phoenix eyes radiating authority: "What is all this commotion?"

"We have been remiss!" The assembled ministers hurriedly begged forgiveness.

"You are all high ministers bearing the weight of military and state affairs. Withdraw now, attend to matters of state, and steady the people's hearts!" Lady Li instructed calmly.

At these words, the ministers exchanged glances. Su Fengji stepped forward on his own initiative, bowed his head, and asked respectfully: "Your Majesty the Empress, may we inquire as to His Majesty's condition? We request an audience."

"A minor ailment, nothing serious! His Majesty needs rest and recuperation and is not receiving visitors for now. He will return to court in a few days." Lady Li stated directly: "His Majesty has decreed that during his convalescence, the Crown Prince shall oversee the state. All of you, return to your posts, assist the Crown Prince, keep the government running, and manage state affairs well!"

"Yes!"

"We shall do our utmost to assist His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Since Lady Li had spoken thus, the ministers could only withdraw. They dared not force their way in. As for calming people's hearts—these courtiers needed calming themselves.

Liu Chengyou was called back by Lady Li and kept behind. But when facing her son, the steel in Lady Li's bearing faded, revealing a trace of weariness and a hint of worry.

"Mother, Father, he..." Liu Chengyou asked quietly.

Lady Li forced a faint smile at Liu Chengyou. She stepped forward, gently smoothing his bright yellow dragon robe, and instructed him: "Your father is unwell. Now that you are Crown Prince, you must govern the state well and share your sovereign father's burdens. The realm is beset with difficulties and public sentiment is unsettled. Be conciliatory with the courtiers—do not be too rigid. The ways of the world and human affairs are not so simple."

"As for His Majesty, I will take care of him myself. Do not worry overmuch..."

After hearing Lady Li's admonitions, Liu Chengyou's already calm mood grew even calmer. He bowed respectfully to her: "Your son takes his leave."

"Go."

After Liu Chengyou departed, the tenderness on Lady Li's face receded once more. She summoned the several palace eunuchs attending before the hall, along with her young brother Li Ye, and instructed them coldly and sternly: "Spread the word—anyone in the palace who spreads rumors or gossip about His Majesty's illness will be punished without mercy!"

"Your Highness!"

Stepping into the Bureau of Military Affairs in the capacity of Crown Prince was naturally a new experience. After all, he now held the status of one who was half a sovereign. The officials of the Bureau were all the more respectful in their bearing, especially having heard that the Emperor was unwell. Facing the hall full of deferential salutes, Liu Chengyou remained as composed as ever, merely telling them calmly to return to their duties and attend to their affairs.

"Has there been any latest news from Guanzhong?" Liu Chengyou went directly to Guo Wei and asked.

Guo Wei picked up a military report and handed it to Liu Chengyou: "This is the latest battle report. As the cold winter fades, the Shu general Li Tinggui has emerged from Ziwu Valley and has been blocked by Zhao Kuangzan's forces at Ziwu Town, checking the enemy's advance. However, word has it that the Shu army stockpiled a great quantity of grain and weapons in Xingyuan Prefecture over the winter. This time, they may truly harbor the intention of swallowing up Jingzhao and Fengxiang in one gulp!"

"Then we'll see whether they have the appetite for it!" Liu Chengyou slapped the table and said coldly.

"What's the situation on the Fengxiang side?"

At the question, Guo Wei drew a breath, his expression turning thoroughly grave: "The Shu army is advancing on two routes through Qin and Feng, placing Fengxiang completely in a pincer. But as long as we hold Chencang, the Shu army is nothing to fear. However, I fear that Hou Yi, the Military Governor of Fengxiang, surely has informants in the capital. Knowing the court suspects him, I worry he may harbor doubts and resentment. If he willingly degrades himself and defects to the Meng Shu, leading the Shu army into Fengxiang, the situation in Guanzhong would completely collapse!"

Liu Chengyou had actually already had some inkling of these circumstances, but hearing it spoken aloud, he still could not help but draw a sharp breath: "Truly a case of hesitating to throw the stone for fear of hitting the vase!"

"Fengxiang absolutely cannot be lost!" Liu Chengyou's tone carried an unassailable finality.

He rose and walked to a military map hanging in the center of the bureau hall, on which the current situation of the various prefectures in Guanzhong was marked, including the Shu army's advance routes. Liu Chengyou's gaze fixed intently on the westernmost extremity of the Great Han's territory. With the four prefectures of Qin, Feng, Jie, and Cheng lost, Fengxiang stood isolated and exposed, directly facing the Shu army's spearhead—there was indeed a sense of precariousness about it.

And at this moment, the Great Han's Guanzhong, facing the Meng Shu's encroachment, was in a far more dire situation than when Cao Wei faced Zhuge Liang's first Northern Expedition. After all, Longxi was entirely in enemy hands. The Shu army needed only to take Fengxiang to advance east along the Wei River and, coordinating with the Ziwu force, strike at Jingzhao in a pincer.

Moreover, the man currently defending Chencang for the Great Han was no Hao Zhao.

"Your Highness, Hou Yi is a veteran general who has served through several dynasties. Though he may have made some suspicious moves due to his misgivings, looking at his reactions before and after, it is hardly certain that he truly intends to surrender to the Meng Shu." As Liu Chengyou was deep in thought, Guo Wei began to speak.

"Commissioner Guo, speak your mind plainly!" Liu Chengyou's gaze remained fixed on the map.

Guo Wei continued: "If Hou Yi truly wished to surrender, he would likely have already led the Shu army eastward long ago—he would never have made the earlier moves to repel them. Moreover, he is already in his sixtieth year, having reached the highest ministerial rank in the dynasty. Why would he leave his homeland and abandon a great state for the narrow, small country of Shu? What benefit would there be? 'A hoofprint puddle can hardly hold a foot-long carp.' At the root of it all, Hou Yi still harbors wariness toward the court. If the court merely sends an envoy to console him and speak with sincerity, I believe he would not wish to rebel."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou said with a sneer: "He begged to surrender to the Meng Shu and sent his subordinate officials westward carrying military registers and grain ledgers—that is a fact, is it not? Such actions make his rebellious intent clear. Commissioner, there is no need to speak on his behalf."

During this period, the Han court's focus had been on the situation in Guanzhong, particularly Fengxiang. The little maneuvers that Military Governor Hou Yi had been making had all been reported back one by one. Or perhaps he had deliberately let the court discover them, to hold as leverage for his own importance.

Hearing Liu Chengyou speak thus and sensing his hard-line attitude, Guo Wei sighed inwardly—still too young. He clasped his hands, about to speak further, when he saw Liu Chengyou raise a hand: "Even so, I still wish to be magnanimous. I will memorialize His Majesty to grant him an iron writ of immunity, raise his office, and elevate his rank. What does the Commissioner think?"

At this, Guo Wei was momentarily stunned. Noting Liu Chengyou's cold, hard countenance, he bowed in salute: "Your Highness's breadth of mind commands this minister's admiration!"

"I will immediately arrange for someone to go to Fengxiang and tell Hou Yi that the court is willing to treat him with complete sincerity. It remains to be seen whether he is willing to accept this goodwill!" Liu Chengyou said.

Guo Wei's brow relaxed, and he responded with great confidence: "As long as Hou Yi is not utterly benighted, he will naturally know how to choose!"

That look of certainty was almost as if he had taken a bribe.

"Has the matter of dispatching troops not yet been decided?" Liu Chengyou asked.

The dispatch of troops to Guanzhong had been under discussion for over ten days, but since the Shu army had not yet made any substantial offensive moves, the Han court's progress had been somewhat slow.

A hint of indignation showed on Guo Wei's face: "It is proposed to send five thousand imperial army troops, drawn from the Hall Direct Guard and the Eastern and Western Banner armies. However, the selection of the commanding general is still under discussion."

"With so many generals in the Imperial Guard Command, can you not find a single capable man? If we delay any longer, the Shu troops will be at the gates of Chang'an!" The anger in Liu Chengyou's chest flared up suddenly.

In fact, Liu Chengyou had heard something of the matter—it was still due to the rivalry between the generals and the chancellors. Shi Hongzhao wanted to use his own man, and Yang Bin... Yang Bin actually dared to openly extend his hand into the imperial army!

Facing Liu Chengyou's wrath, Guo Wei let out a slight sigh.

"Tomorrow, gather the civil and military officials, and have the assembled generals settle on the candidate!" Liu Chengyou instructed.

Having raised the matter, hands on his hips, Liu Chengyou stared at the western frontier for a while longer, then suddenly said: "Under our jurisdiction is Shi Kuangyi, Military Governor of Zhangyi Army—have him lead the Jingyuan forces south to Longzhou, threatening He Chongjian's army from the flank and supporting Fengxiang!"

Guo Wei, hearing this, studied the matter as well, then looked at Liu Chengyou: "This plan works!"

"By Your Highness's intent, the Jingyuan forces moving south surely threaten more than just the Shu army!" Guo Wei added.

Liu Chengyou clenched his fist and said coldly: "Without military pressure bearing down on him, I fear Hou Yi will hardly deal with the court in good faith."