Chapter 165: The Uyghur Envoy

"Zhao Kuangzan adds in his message that he has already dispatched Administrative Assistant Li Shu to present a memorial and enter the court for an audience, wishing to fully report on the military situation in Guanzhong!" Guo Wei reported.

"Where is he now?"

"He has not yet arrived at the Eastern Capital!"

Liu Chengyou instructed: "Once he arrives, report to me directly—I will receive him in person!"

"Yes!"

"Your Highness, an envoy from the Uyghurs seeks an audience!" As he exited the Bureau of Military Affairs and headed toward the Hall of State Affairs, before he could even enter, the acting Chief of the Court of Diplomatic Reception came forward to report.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyou only then remembered that there was still this "friendly state's" envoy residing in the capital.

After the height of the Great Tang, the Uyghurs succeeded the Turks' hegemony in Mobei, and had always maintained close ties with the Central Plains, with cultural and economic exchanges never ceasing. Over a hundred years ago, the Uyghurs were destroyed by the Kyrgyz, and their tribes scattered in all directions. A portion migrated south of the frontier, where they were absorbed and assimilated by the Great Tang, while the rest mostly migrated westward.

Among the westward-migrating Uyghur tribes, some moved to the Gan and Sha regions, surviving by relying on the Tibetans. Even so, their connection with the Central Plains never broke. Beginning with the Later Liang, through the Tang and Jin dynasties, in every reign and every dynasty, the Uyghurs would periodically come to court to present tribute. Now that the Central Plains is ruled by the Liu family, they have come as always to offer congratulations.

The Uyghur envoy who came to the Eastern Capital this time was from the Ganzhou Uyghurs. Originally, he had wished to have an audience with Liu Zhiyuan, but Liu Zhiyuan could not even endure the New Year's grand court assembly, let alone spare the energy to receive the Uyghur envoy. Unable to do otherwise, the Uyghur envoy had to settle for the next best option and request an audience with the Crown Prince—after all, word that the Crown Prince was overseeing the state had already spread.

"To the Court of Diplomatic Reception!" Without giving it much thought, Liu Chengyou instructed directly.

The envoy's name was Li Wu, around thirty years old, but with a weathered appearance—probably from too much sand blown about in the Ganzhou-Liangzhou region. Upon seeing Liu Chengyou, he immediately performed the grand salute. Since the man was being so courteous, Liu Chengyou naturally had to display the magnanimity of a great celestial dynasty and behaved very amiably. But clearly Liu Chengyou's severity was already ingrained in his bones, and the envoy appeared quite ill at ease.

Although the current Great Han could not yet extend its reach to the Uyghurs, that did not stop Liu Chengyou from learning about them. He inquired about matters of Hexi, and the envoy answered everything.

This time, the Uyghur envoy had brought many fine tribute items, such as white jade, medicinal herbs, gold sand, and other precious goods. But what interested Liu Chengyou most was a hundred sturdy Ganzhou horses. However, before Liu Chengyou could even show a hint of satisfaction, Li Wu reported: "Originally, we intended to present the horses as tribute to the Great Han, but unexpectedly, on the way, they were intercepted and seized by the Dingnan Army!"

That one sentence immediately soured Liu Chengyou's mood. Liu Chengyou had a headache over this—the Fengxiang and Shu army incursions had yet to be resolved, and now the Tangut people of Xia and Sui had popped up, daring to plunder the court's tribute horses. He was furious inside, but truly had no recourse. At this moment, if he pushed the Dingnan Army into open rebellion, the situation in the northwest would truly collapse into complete chaos.

The Great Han's internal troubles and external threats were no laughing matter. In the original history, with the Later Han's ruler and ministers carrying on the way they did, managing to preserve four years of the dynasty's mandate seemed rather long already. Presumably, Guo Wei had made great contributions to prolonging the Later Han's national fortune...

No matter how furious or dissatisfied he felt inside, nothing showed on Liu Chengyou's face. Walking along this path, he had endured plenty of frustrating matters; there was no need to get overly agitated over things he could not immediately avenge—that would only lower himself. However, another name was added to Liu Chengyou's little notebook: Military Governor of the Dingnan Army—Li Yiyin.

"This Governor Li is truly impatient. If he lacked war horses, he could have simply informed the court—a mere hundred Ganzhou horses could have been gifted to him outright..." Glancing at the envoy Li Wu, Liu Chengyou said with feigned casualness, though the stiffness in his tone was something anyone could sense.

Taking a slight breath, Liu Chengyou said: "Your Excellency has traveled far and labored greatly. Please rest well at the Court of Diplomatic Reception for now, and feel free to enjoy the sights of the Eastern Capital. If you have any needs, you may report them to the Court of Diplomatic Reception! I still have state affairs to attend to..."

Li Wu was clearly a man of keen perception—he understood the subtle implication at once, and immediately clasped his hands and said: "Your subject respectfully sees off Your Highness!"

"Your Highness." Just as he was about to leave the Court of Diplomatic Reception, someone called out to him. It should be an official of the Court of Diplomatic Reception—around thirty years old, with a refined bearing and a solemn countenance.

Liu Chengyou was in a bad mood and asked offhandedly: "What is it?"

Seeing that Liu Chengyou was acknowledging him, the man unhurriedly clasped his hands and reported: "This time, accompanying the Uyghur envoy to the Eastern Capital, there is also a merchant caravan. They carry mostly luxury goods and rare treasures such as white jade and precious sand, for the purpose of trade."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at this official: "What are you trying to say?"

"White jade and such, though called precious treasures, are of no benefit to the state's coffers."

"So what?" Liu Chengyou was puzzled by this man's words, but his interest was also piqued.

Seeing this, the official replied: "Your Highness may not know this—since the Jin dynasty, whenever Uyghur envoys came to the capital, besides their tribute items, the precious goods they carried were forbidden from private trade among the people; all had to be sold to the government, and anyone among the people who traded for them was punished! White jade may be worth tens of thousands, but in this age, it is not more precious than a hu of grain. Spending the court's funds to purchase such useless things..."

Before he could finish, Liu Chengyou interjected: "I understand your meaning!"

After thinking for a moment, he asked: "What do you think should be done about this matter? They are envoys from a friendly state, having traveled a thousand li to trade—we cannot very well forbid them."

Hearing this, the man was clearly well-prepared and immediately answered: "No need for anything else—the court need only issue an edict permitting private trade, with the government not to prohibit or interrogate it. If the gentry and commoners of the Eastern Capital are interested, they may trade with them freely..."

After briefly considering his suggestion, Liu Chengyou had to admit it was a good method. Given the current situation in the Eastern Capital, for the gentry and commoners, furs and herbs were far more attractive than white jade and precious sand. Without the government purchasing as a backstop, this "white jade" business of the Uyghurs would likely end in losses.

As for how the Uyghur merchant caravan would react after this decree was issued, that was no longer Liu Chengyou's concern—after all, would they dare to "force a sale" on the government? It wasn't as if their trade was being prohibited. In the future, when merchant caravans came again, they would learn to be wiser and sell useful goods, such as war horses, fine white cloth, and furs.

This matter was a trivial affair for Liu Chengyou—a matter of a single sentence. But what truly piqued his interest was the official before him. He asked: "You were able to spot this problem and also propose a solution—you must be no ordinary man. What is your name?"

"Your subject is Fan Zhi, Bureau Director of the Bureau of Revenue."

Just hearing the name, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but look him up and down several times. In the Five Dynasties, especially during the Later Zhou period, this Fan Zhi was a renowned minister of his generation.

Glancing at his plain official robe, Liu Chengyou asked casually: "A Bureau Director of the Bureau of Revenue—how is it that you're at the Court of Diplomatic Reception?"

Liu Chengyou's question instead caught Fan Zhi off guard for a moment, and he answered: "When His Majesty entered Bian, your subject, as Bureau Director of the Bureau of Revenue, was assigned to administer the affairs of the Court of Diplomatic Reception."

Liu Chengyou suddenly understood and couldn't help but slap his forehead—even now, the official positions in this court were already so convoluted as to give one a headache.

"Staying at the Court of Diplomatic Reception is a waste of your talents!" Liu Chengyou said directly.

As he said this, he kept observing Fan Zhi's expression—it was very calm, with not a trace of surprise or delight on his face, perfectly natural.

Liu Chengyou was even more satisfied with his reaction. The quality he displayed at this moment already surpassed most of the court officials.

After thinking it over, Liu Chengyou said to Fan Zhi: "I have a task for you."

"Your Highness, please speak!" Fan Zhi clasped his hands.

Pointing into the Court of Diplomatic Reception, Liu Chengyou said in a low voice: "Investigate for me what exactly happened on the Uyghur envoy's journey to the capital—especially regarding the matter of the Dingnan Army seizing the tribute horses."

Hearing this, though Fan Zhi was surprised, he still accepted the order.

Liu Chengyou, however, was suspicious—since the Uyghur envoy had a merchant caravan accompanying him, if the Tanguts had robbed them, why would they only target the tribute horses and overlook the fine jade and goods? Perhaps there was something hidden in this matter.

Of course, this was merely a passing thought for Liu Chengyou, and it was not unlikely that he also intended to further test Fan Zhi through this opportunity.

"Oh, right—I intend to transfer you to the Secretariat-Chancellery, to temporarily serve as a clerk in the confidential affairs office. Don't mind the low rank..." Liu Chengyou raised his hand and said casually, which counted as a promise.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Fan Zhi remained perfectly calm.

This man was rather interesting—even when seeking office, he appeared so "unworldly."

Liu Chengyou was not dull-witted. For this man to boldly seek him out and display his abilities—what was he after?

He knew in his heart.