Chapter 177: The New Emperor's Edicts

Liu Chengyou's enthronement ceremony followed only one principle: everything was kept simple. Or rather, it was a matter of making do with what was available—the rites were incomplete, constrained by national circumstances, and with the situation unstable, Liu Chengyou had little inclination to expend effort on trivial details. Moreover, the budget was insufficient; whatever the treasury could provide, Liu Chengyou had Wang Zhang allocate toward Liu Zhiyuan's funeral preparations.

With the court strapped for funds, whatever could be saved was saved. Even so, Liu Chengyou's enthronement ceremony was not overly shabby—at least the scale was grand enough, the momentum sufficient, and the crowd, numerous.

The enthronement ceremony was, after all, merely a ritual—a declaration to the world that the Great Han's realm had completely changed hands. Even with the ceremonial protocols trimmed to the barest minimum, it still cost Liu Chengyou considerable energy and stamina.

Of course, the most important part of the enthronement ceremony was naturally the first imperial edict of Liu Chengyou's reign, the contents of which were as follows:

First, the era name would remain unchanged, still following Qianyou—this was something Liu Zhiyuan had mentioned in his final testament.

As for his name, Liu Chengyou had thoughts of changing it. Previously, his cousin and adoptive brother, the Left Chancellor of the Protectorate, Liu Chengyun, had come to pay respects, and had very properly announced himself as "Your subject, Liu Yun." However, what exactly to change the name to had not yet been decided—after all, it was the imperial name, not to be taken lightly. Having Liu Chengyou "invent characters" himself was also difficult for him, so it was left to the Academicians of the Hanlin Academy to deliberate.

Second, his mother, Empress Lady Li, would be honored as Empress Dowager, still residing in Renming Hall. Lady Fu would be made Empress, Lady Gao Noble Consort, and Lady Geng Pure Consort.

Third, Chancellor Yang Bin was appointed Mausoleum Commissioner, Chief Minister Dou Zhengu as Deputy Commissioner, Grand Master of Ceremonies Zhang Zhao as Rites Commissioner, Vice Minister of Justice Lu Jia as Procession Commissioner, and Vice Censor-in-Chief Bian Wei as Ceremonial Guard Commissioner, with Shi Hongzhao as Mausoleum Guardian. Of the above, all others were mere supporting figures—Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao were the two Liu Chengyou intended to take primary responsibility for Liu Zhiyuan's funeral arrangements. Until that matter was concluded, they needed to worry less about military and governmental affairs. Liu Zhiyuan's tomb was still under construction, and they would have to trouble him to remain lying in Wansui Hall for a while longer...

Fourth, civil and military officials alike would receive favors, and the cavalry and infantry troops of the Eastern Capital would be given special rewards, to display the new emperor's grace. The promotions and ennoblements of the civil and military officials would be discussed later, but the rewards for the imperial army soldiers were implemented quickly—though the treasury's grain and funds immediately shrank by a large margin, there was nothing to begrudge. Liu Chengyou could be frugal with himself, but toward the military, he dared not be careless.

When the enthronement ceremony concluded smoothly and the edict was proclaimed throughout the city, some faint cheers could be heard in the streets...

According to custom, Liu Chengyou as the new sovereign should have issued a general amnesty for the realm, but as for the practice of pardoning criminals to display imperial virtue, Liu Chengyou himself harbored doubts.

Since ancient times, whenever there were floods or droughts, a new emperor's enthronement, or any other important occasion, an edict of general amnesty and leniency toward criminals was always issued. It seemed that apart from pardoning crimes, there was no other means of displaying the sovereign's benevolence. If the emperor's mercy needed to be spent on a bunch of criminals, then what benefit did that bring to the law-abiding, dutiful common folk? And was it fair to those who had suffered injustice and harm?

On this point, his cousin Li Shaoyou seemed to have discerned his thoughts in advance. Previously, when Liu Chengyou was traveling south to the Eastern Capital from the north, the two had a brief exchange on the matter of the "general amnesty."

Li Shaoyou presented an essay to Liu Chengyou, titled "Refuting the Amnesty," which, according to him, was a memorial written by Vice Minister of War Zhang Yun over a decade earlier. Liu Chengyou read it and was greatly pleased, feeling that it spoke directly to his heart.

... Restrain desires, practice diligence and frugality, show compassion for the widowed and solitary, rectify punishments—do not recklessly pardon the guilty, do not excessively execute the innocent—so that good governance prevails throughout the realm, and sage virtue is heard by the sovereign above...

This was nearly a governing platform in itself. Though one could find many similar passages in the vast sea of texts, the final line of the essay spoke Liu Chengyou's heart completely: How can recklessly pardoning crimes possibly rescue one from disaster? Or display one's virtue?

Though it was unknown how capable Zhang Yun was in practical matters, at least in theory he suited Liu Chengyou's thinking well, and Liu Chengyou already had intentions of employing him in an actual post. At the same time, Liu Chengyou also resolved firmly not to issue a general amnesty.

However, if criminals were not pardoned, how could virtue be displayed? How could grace be shown? After deliberating with his chief ministers, Liu Chengyou decided to offer something more tangible.

For the Eastern Capital specifically, he directly abolished all exorbitant levies beyond the regular taxes. For example, the city exit tax. In the Eastern Capital, whether scholar, farmer, artisan, or merchant, one paid tax to enter the city, and paid tax again to leave it.

Additionally, weddings and funerals were also tax-exempt. It was absurd even to speak of it—under the Great Han court's rule, one paid tax to marry, and paid tax to hold a funeral and carry the coffin out for burial.

As for the begging tax, the street tax, the residence tax, and so on—there was no need to elaborate; just hearing the names made it clear what they were about.

These had all been concocted by the State Finance Commission at the end of last autumn, when the campaign against Du was urgent and finances were strained. Though they had only been in effect for a few months, they drew curses from all sides and resentment from the people. Wang Zhang, as the instigator, was especially vilified, with fingers pointed at his back. At the time, facing the criticism, Wang Zhang was so rebutted that he dared not leave his house. It was Yang Bin who proposed, and finally Shi Hongzhao who sent troops to arrest those "rabble who insulted ministers" and throw them in prison to be dealt with, which finally quieted things down. But while mouths could be sealed, the unvented anger in people's hearts could not be...

Liu Chengyou had long intended to abolish these during his time as regent, but he had held back, enduring until he ascended the throne as emperor to win over popular support.

During the deliberations, Wang Zhang couldn't help reminding Liu Chengyou that the court's expenditures were many, and this would cut a chunk of tax revenue. But it could not shake Liu Chengyou's resolve in the slightest—these exorbitant levies were inherently acts that destroyed the foundation and corrupted popular sentiment, and for the overall fiscal balance of the state and court, they were a drop in the bucket. If those in power needed such means to gather wealth and collect taxes, they deserved destruction.

However, as for the "province consumption" law and the "short-string" law that Wang Zhang had already implemented, Liu Chengyou subconsciously ignored them for the time being. On small gains, one could be generous to reassure the people and win their hearts. But on large gains, one had to be cautious—after all, the court also needed to get by day to day. For now, he would play deaf and dumb, let the common folk suffer for a while, and relieve their burdens at a later date...

On the second day, Liu Chengyou's edict was issued, and the effect was marked—the whole city cheered, officials and commoners alike showed joyful expressions. Though it was not yet to the point of praising Liu Chengyou as an enlightened sovereign, these measures at least let the scholars and people of the Eastern Capital see a glimmer of hope for benefit.

In fact, exempting these exorbitant taxes that should never have existed was, for the scholars and commoners, truly only a small favor. But often, small favors could have an even greater effect.

On the second day, Liu Chengyou issued another edict: the Military Governors, Surveillance Commissioners, Defense Commissioners, Militia Commissioners, and Prefects of the various circuits need not come to mourn. Though this had been the convention since the Tang dynasty, the proper gesture still had to be made.

Even so, those nearby—such as Liu Shenjiao of Zhengzhou, Wu Xingde of Heyang, and Guo Congyi of Huazhou—still came in person. Especially Wu Xingde, who personally escorted a portion of last year's autumn tax that had not yet been delivered to the central government.

This Wu Xingde, though he had risen suddenly last year by seizing the moment, was truly a very clever man.

PS: Can anyone think of an imperial name for the protagonist? I've subconsciously considered Bian, Yu, and... but found none of them suitable......