Chapter 180: The Sit-Down Forum

In Renming Hall, the Empress Dowager's bedchamber, twenty-four palace eunuchs were in attendance—this already accounted for one-tenth of the entire palace staff. How sparse the Han palace's personnel were could be seen from this. And this was only after entering Bian; Liu Zhiyuan had gradually recruited some people to serve in the palace.

Lady Li was kind and generous by nature, and in her daily dealings she treated her subordinates gently and well, so the palace attendants serving her were comparatively at ease.

"His Majesty arrives!" But with a single loud announcement, the palace maids and eunuchs both inside and outside Renming Hall, who had been somewhat relaxed, immediately tensed up. Even when Liu Chengyou was still the Prince of Zhou, that stern, severe face of his could already intimidate everyone, let alone now that he had become Emperor—one could not afford the slightest negligence.

Passing through the crowd of palace attendants performing their bows, Liu Chengyou strode quickly directly into the hall.

Inside the hall, Lady Li was chatting with the elder Lady Fu, Lady Gao, and Lady Geng. Three women: the elder Lady Fu was Empress, born of a prestigious family with great clan power behind her; Lady Gao, though also from a military household, was always a head shorter because she had remarried; Lady Geng had been with Liu Chengyou the longest, and being pregnant, her belly was already round and full...

But toward her three daughters-in-law, Lady Li showed herself very fair, never revealing any partiality in her words despite any inner preference. With the elder Princess Yongning there to smooth things over as well, the atmosphere looked quite harmonious. The one who suffered, though, was Liu Chenghsun off to the side—bored to death, yet much quieter than before, his grief over his father's death not yet healed, no longer as lively and restless as he used to be.

When they heard the announcement, everyone rose together to greet him. Liu Chengyou only swept a glance around, waved for all to dispense with ceremony, then respectfully paid his respects to Lady Li first.

It was nearing noon, and Lady Li was holding a small family banquet in the hall, inviting Liu Chengyou—a brief respite from his heavy military and governmental duties.

"Elder Sister is here too?"

"Your Majesty." Princess Yongning responded with a formal salute.

The elder princess was very beautiful. Already a wife and mother, she exuded the charm of a young matron from head to toe. Song Yanwo was truly fortunate... Between brother and sister, their relationship was in fact merely one of blood; ordinarily they had no deep exchanges.

"During the period of national mourning, is such fish and meat appropriate?" Yet, looking at that table of "all-fish feast," Liu Chengyou frowned slightly, gazing at Lady Li.

"You've been toiling over state affairs these days, visibly grown much thinner—this is just right to nourish you." Lady Li pointed at Liu Chengyou's increasingly sharpened features and said in a gentle voice: "If anyone in the outer court raises objections, let him come find me! If your father blames me, then after a hundred years, I'll apologize to him in person."

With Lady Li having spoken to this extent, Liu Chengyou no longer stood on ceremony and joined the feast together. The fish was mandarin fish newly in season—tender flesh, delicious flavor, few bones and much meat. He drank the fish soup and ate the fish. Though Liu Chengyou's mouth was reserved, his body was honest; he ate with great relish.

To set an example, he had indeed been living like an ascetic monk this whole time. While chewing on the fish, Liu Chengyou glanced at Lady Li personally ladling soup for Liu Chenghsun, the maternal affection at the corners of her mouth stirring something in his heart. He reckoned this "all-fish feast" had been prepared specially for him.

"In the Eastern Capital, who knows how many common folk can taste the delicacy of mandarin fish..." Setting down his chopsticks, Liu Chengyou sighed with emotion.

As these words fell, the diarist beside him immediately picked up his brush and recorded. This was a display of the Emperor not forgetting to worry for the people even while dining—the lament of an enlightened ruler...

"Second Son."

After the feast ended, Lady Li summoned Liu Chengyou alone to the inner hall, her expression unusually serious.

"What instruction does Mother have?" Liu Chengyou looked at Lady Li, somewhat puzzled.

"In the early morning, Yang Bin came to the palace to pay his respects to me." Lady Li said.

Frowning slightly, Liu Chengyou asked: "What did he say?"

Lady Li's phoenix brows also knit slightly as she said: "He intends to resign from office and retire."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou narrowed his eyes, his mind turning, yet he gave a faint sneer. This Chancellor Yang—if he wished to resign and retire, he could simply submit his request directly to him. Going to the palace to tell Lady Li, what was that supposed to be? One should know that although Liu Chengyou was a young sovereign, this Great Han realm was not one where the Empress Dowager regent oversaw the state.

Seeing Liu Chengyou lost in thought there, Lady Li sighed softly and said: "Second Son, matters of the outer court are not something I should meddle in. Between you and Chancellor Yang, though there are some conflicts, they are not irreconcilable. The state's affairs are difficult, thorns everywhere. You have just succeeded to the throne, and those above and below have not yet submitted in their hearts. At such a time, stabilizing the court should be the priority. Chancellor Yang followed your father for many years; he contributed no small effort to the founding of the Great Han. If he has any faults, you should be more tolerant. Ruler and minister of one mind, together weathering the hard times..."

Lady Li's words were already somewhat leaning toward interfering in governance. But seeing the worry for him written all over her face and in her eyes, Liu Chengyou found it hard to feel much displeasure in his heart. After a moment's thought, he bowed to her: "Mother's instruction—your son understands!"

Knowing that Liu Chengyou had always had his own opinions, and moreover that he was now Emperor and needed no one to nag him, Lady Li saw his unreadable expression and sighed inwardly, knowing she should not say anything more.

"I am busy with court affairs and have no time to look after Renming Hall or attend upon the Empress Dowager. In your daily life, go often to Renming Hall, keep the Empress Dowager company, and fulfill my filial duty for me!" After leaving Renming Hall, Liu Chengyou instructed Empress Fu.

The elder Lady Fu was briefly startled at this, finding it somewhat odd, but she still accepted very gently, more than willing. Everyone knew that Liu Chengyou was extremely filial to his mother; having her accompany and fulfill filial duty in his place was clearly a gesture of favor toward her.

When he returned to Chuigong Hall, Liu Chengyou's expression was in fact dark and gloomy.

Not daring—or unwilling—to be displeased with Empress Dowager Li, he could only transfer the resentment in his heart onto Yang Bin. Since succeeding to the throne, though the time had been short, Liu Chengyou had temporarily set aside his moves against Yang Bin, wanting a smooth transition.

Around the time of his enthronement, he had thought Yang Bin was completely suppressed. But unexpectedly, under such heavy pressure, this man had stirred up thoughts again—restlessly trying to drag the Empress Dowager into it. It was fortunate that Lady Li was reasonable and principled; had the Empress Dowager interfered in governance, it would have been an absolute headache for Liu Chengyou.

It touched upon filial piety, upon the issue of his public image, and most importantly upon the stability of the court...

Tapping his index finger against his thigh, Liu Chengyou frowned in deep thought. He was hesitating whether or not to summon Wang Jingchong.

"Your Majesty, the imperial army commanders have all arrived!" While he was pondering, a palace eunuch came to report.

Hearing the report, Liu Chengyou had no choice but to set aside his thoughts for the moment, steadying his spirits, and ordered: "Summon them!"

The high-ranking generals of the imperial army, Liu Chengyou had already received on the very day he succeeded to the throne. This time, however, it was aimed at the senior officers of the various armies under the Imperial Guard Command—the Chief Commanders, Inspectors, and Battalion Commanders. They were the front-line commanders of the one hundred thirty thousand imperial troops in the Eastern Capital.

Several dozen imperial army commanders made even Chuigong Hall feel crowded. Liu Chengyou, grave yet candid, called out names one by one.

Among those present were former Hedong commanders, imperial personal generals like Sun Li and Han Tong, and of course former officers of the "Jin army." Basically, Liu Chengyou could call out every single one of their names.

"Everyone, sit!"

After the "roll call," Liu Chengyou led the way out of the hall and sat directly on the ground. Outside the hall, the sun was just right, the spring light bright and lovely—far more comfortable than the constraint and oppression inside the hall. This natural, approachable display made the generals feel both novel and inevitably touched by his bearing.

At the same time, he ordered tea served to each of them. Then, the Great Han Emperor's first "sit-down forum" with the high-ranking commanders of the imperial army officially commenced.

"I have but recently ascended the throne, beset by a thousand affairs, and only now have I summoned you generals..."

It was mostly Liu Chengyou speaking. Before the generals, his words were uncharacteristically many—recalling the hardships of founding the enterprise, lamenting the difficulties of the times, encouraging the generals in their duties, looking ahead to the Great Han's future... basically that whole routine. Facing the Son of Heaven's instruction, the host of veteran generals listened very attentively, not a single one dozing off.

Then came a free-flowing discussion, with each offering their own views, expressing ideas, and putting forward some suggestions. At first, the generals were somewhat unaccustomed to this—especially when they saw dedicated officials recording on the side, the rough men all wisely shut their mouths and just listened without speaking, so as not to make fools of themselves.

In the end, this "sit-down forum" still evolved into a discussion of the war in Guanzhong against Shu. Toward this, everyone's interest was clearly much stronger.

It lasted from after noon all the way until dusk before finally ending, and the generals withdrew. As for these officers, Liu Chengyou did not for the time being aspire to their loyalty—that would be truly unrealistic—but drawing a bit closer in relations and deepening the impression of Liu Chengyou as Emperor in their minds was still achievable.

And among these commanders, there were quite a few talented men—some wise, some brave, some fierce. Besides Liu Ci, Wang Yin, and Du Hanhui, there were also Wang Quanbin, Wang Yanchao, Shi Yanchao, and others.

In this era, there really were quite a few people named "Yanchao": there was Murong Yanchao in Yunzhou, and a Zhang Yanchao in Fuzhou...

Additionally, there was also a commander named Zhao Hongyin.