Chapter 166: This Crown Prince Is Not Easy to Be

This chapter is extremely short.

On Liu Chengyou's first day as Crown Prince overseeing the state, he was busy and fulfilled. Even though he had previously assisted in governing, the change in status and the establishment of the ruler-subject relationship brought completely different influence and experience. Leaving the Ceremonial Guesthouse and arriving at the Hall of State Affairs, before he could even rest, clerks reported that envoys from the Yan Prince and memorial officials from Lulong sought an audience.

Liu Chengyou naturally attached great importance to visitors from Youzhou, and without hesitation, summoned them. The visitor was the Administrative Assistant of the Youzhou Military Governor, bearing a mission from Zhao Yanshou. Liu Chengyou received him warmly, treated him with kind words, consulted him on border affairs, and held secret discussions for nearly half an hour, hearing fully of the suffering of Youyan.

Hearing the description firsthand, the situation in Youyan was dire—even worse than previously reported. In this harsh winter alone, due to insufficient care, more than two thousand people had starved to death. Moreover, with the new year arriving, the region faced a period of scarcity between harvests—lacking clothing and food, with extreme material shortages. The two prefectures of Zhuo and Yi had begun preparing for agricultural work, but the people were exhausted, seed grain was scarce, and the Khitan cavalry was restless, showing repeated signs of raiding southward. As for the military, due to losses from the previous fierce battles, military equipment and weapons had not yet been replenished.

Liu Chengyou basically understood—Zhao Yanshou had sent envoys to complain of hardship, poverty, and misery. Sure enough, they requested grain, weapons, cloth, ironware, medicinal herbs... basically, they weren't picky; they wanted whatever the court could give.

To this, Liu Chengyou naturally offered warm words of encouragement: "The Yan Prince and the soldiers and people of Youyan have worked hard! Reply to the Yan Prince that the court is Youzhou's backing, and will never fail you."

After a brief pause, putting on a righteous and solemn air, he said: "Even if state affairs are difficult and the treasuries are empty, the court must show support. I will soon discuss with the assembled ministers to allocate a portion of weapons, grain, ironware, and farming tools to support Youzhou!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" The envoy was naturally moved to tears of gratitude.

From the matter of Youzhou, Liu Chengyou thought of the refugees from Youyan. Last year, when returning from the campaign against Du, Liu Zhiyuan had issued an edict for the northern border prefectures to take them in, but no detailed report had yet been received.

Returning to the central government, Liu Chengyou instructed Vice Director of the Secretariat Li Tao: "Send a letter to Zhang Yanwei, Military Governor of Chengde, asking him about the resettlement situation of the fleeing refugees from Youyan. Spring is about to arrive—have him and Li Gu demarcate and distribute farmland, supply seed grain, and make preparations for spring plowing in advance!"

Immediately after, Liu Chengyou convened Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Su Fengji, and Dou Zhengu—several chancellors—to hold a "joint meeting" to discuss the matter of supporting Youzhou with grain and weapons.

Yang Bin explicitly opposed it, citing insufficient state funds and inability to support a foreign region. Without Liu Chengyou needing to speak himself, Su Fengji opportunely rebutted: "Youyan is also territory of our Great Han, and its soldiers and people are also citizens of our Great Han. How dare you call it a foreign region? Does Chancellor Yang wish to be a traitor who cedes territory?"

These two questions left Yang Bin with an ugly expression, and he responded stubbornly: "All matters must be undertaken according to one's capacity. The crisis in Guanzhong has already consumed much of the court's energy—how can there be strength left to support Youzhou?"

"If not for the soldiers and people of Youyan holding the line and blocking the Khitan forces, how could the court fully deal with the threat of the Shu army? If Youzhou were lost and the barbarian cavalry harassed Hebei, then what? Would the court have the strength to handle both fronts?" Su Fengji immediately retorted.

Yang Bin blurted out: "Zhao Yanshou is a man of duplicitous nature—untrustworthy!"

"Chancellor Yang!" Liu Chengyou finally spoke, calmly gazing at Yang Bin: "Over these past six months, everyone has witnessed the Yan Prince leading the soldiers and people of Youyan in resisting Khitan invasions. The dead and wounded are numerous, blood has flowed across the fields. Such remarks detrimental to unity should not be spoken, lest they spread and chill the hearts of righteous men!"

Being stared at by Liu Chengyou, anyone could feel the rebuke in that flat tone. Yang Bin's face twitched involuntarily; he turned away and responded in a muffled voice. Seeing his reaction, Liu Chengyou did not grow angry, but inwardly sneered—no wonder Liu Chengxun had once said Yang Bin did not understand the bigger picture.

"What opinions do the other chancellors have?" Liu Chengyou turned to the others.

None present were truly dull-witted; all could basically sense Liu Chengyou's attitude. They looked toward Wang Zhang, who managed the State Finance Commission, and Yang Bin also glanced at this fellow townsman.

If following his own heart, Wang Zhang certainly did not wish to expend money and grain. In probably every dynasty, officials in charge of finances disliked arbitrary spending, wishing they could lock the doors of the treasuries and granaries tight. Especially Wang Zhang—since taking charge of the nation's tax revenues, he had worked with utmost dedication to raise funds for state, administrative, and military use.

The Great Han had just been founded, the chaos of war had barely subsided, production had not yet recovered, and the entire country was impoverished. Local prefectures and counties had little revenue to support the central government. To collect finances, Wang Zhang had racked his brains and enacted numerous "harsh policies," and his excessive levies had already stirred widespread popular resentment.

However, under Liu Chengyou's gaze, Wang Zhang sighed and said: "The soldiers and people of Youyan shield the northern border, with great merit and hardship—they naturally deserve support. But the emptiness of the state treasuries is also a fact."

Pausing briefly, Wang Zhang continued: "Your minister proposes sending a portion from the Eastern Capital, with the remainder supplemented by the two military governors of Chengde and Hengshai. I have heard that Your Highness's government-run and civilian-run farming colonies in Heng, Shen, Ji, and Zhao last year have shown results, so the prefectural governments should not be too strapped. As long as Youyan can endure another half year until the summer harvest, when the new taxes come in and the court has some leeway, we can provide aid and response more comfortably."

Wang Zhang had essentially laid his cards on the table. Hearing his proposal, Liu Chengyou made the final decision directly: "Minister Wang's proposal is acceptable—proceed accordingly."

"The court should also begin preparing spring plowing matters for the central prefectures, so as not to be caught unprepared!"

Soon, the discussion turned to spring agricultural affairs.

On this matter, Yang Bin had the right to speak, and with a cold, hard face said: "The court should issue edicts to all prefectures, urging them to encourage farming and sericulture. The military farming colonies advocated by Prince Wei in Zhengzhou have also shown results. Your minister suggests that the central prefectures should follow Zhengzhou's example and implement military farming. The court can also establish Agricultural Colony Commissioners in each prefecture, gather refugees, distribute land, and encourage reclamation!"

"Chancellor Yang's proposal is acceptable—military farming should indeed be comprehensively promoted across the Central Plains!" Liu Chengyou said expressionlessly.

But inwardly he felt some contempt for Yang Bin—when speaking of military farming, he still had to look around and emphasize the deceased Liu Chengxun. Was this meant to disgust him?

"Your Highness, there are still large numbers of bandits wreaking havoc in prefectures across the realm. If they engage in plundering, it will affect spring plowing everywhere and delay agricultural work!" Vice Director of the Chancellery Dou Zhengu reminded at this moment.

Liu Chengyou clearly took this matter to heart: "Since the founding of the Great Han, bandits have sprung up everywhere, impossible to eradicate completely, causing extremely bad effects on the stability of the realm. Previously the court could not attend to it, but now is the time to begin cleaning them up!"

Hearing this, Su Fengji immediately suggested eagerly: "Your Highness, the bandits of the realm are mostly connected to their families. The people and bandits collude, committing evil in the countryside, which is why prohibition is difficult. We can draft an edict to all prefectures and counties: wherever bandits reside, their families and neighboring mutual-guarantee groups shall all be executed. In this way, the people will fear it and dare not become bandits again!"

When Su Fengji finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment, everyone staring at him in shock. Liu Chengyou was the same, the corner of his mouth twitching—surely this was a joke. But seeing Su Fengji's murderous expression, Liu Chengyou knew this man was serious...