Chapter 194: The Wude Office's Harvest

On the twenty-eighth day of the second month, Liu Chengyou personally went to the Hall of State Affairs to inspect governmental matters, and took the opportunity to sample the cooking of Su Fengji's private chef—the flavor was indeed quite good.

"If His Majesty is pleased, your minister could send meals daily, or even send the chef into the palace..." Seeing Liu Chengyou's "satisfied" reaction, Su Fengji spoke to him respectfully, a fawning smile on his face.

Glancing at Su Fengji and noting the ingratiating look between his brows, Liu Chengyou's face twitched slightly. He paused, then said flatly: "Since it is the private chef of Your Minister Su's household, how could I take what another cherishes?"

"All that your minister possesses is by the grace of the late emperor and His Majesty—how could I begrudge a single cook?" Su Fengji appeared very generous.

Seeing his reaction, Liu Chengyou felt somewhat curious. In the past, Su Fengji, despite all his various flaws in Liu Chengyou's eyes, had at least possessed some insight and could get things done. But lately, he seemed to serve no purpose other than counterbalancing Yang Bin. On the contrary, Liu Chengyou's disgust toward his greed and extravagance was growing by the day.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Yang Bin appeared in the hall with a cold face, cast an indifferent glance at Su Fengji waiting off to the side, bowed to Liu Chengyou, and interrupted his train of thought.

Surveying Yang Bin for a moment, Liu Chengyou raised his hand: "Minister Yang, no need for ceremony."

Noticing the official document in his hand, he asked directly: "What matter brings you here?"

Yang Bin calmly presented the document while reporting: "Your Majesty, in accordance with the previous edict, the prefects, militia commissioners, and defense commissioners of each prefecture have been recruiting and settling displaced persons and bandit groups within their jurisdictions. According to the reports, in the prefectures of the Central Plains and Hebei, approximately thirty-seven thousand six hundred-plus households have been received and settled, totaling over two hundred ten thousand people..."

"That many?" Liu Chengyou was somewhat surprised.

Previously, an edict had been issued: all bandits under heaven who came down from the mountains and submitted before the first day of the third month would have their crimes fully pardoned, receive land allotments, and have their homes restored. Naturally, this edict had its effect, for the Great Han was still slowly developing toward stability. Ordinary folk, unless left with no choice, had no desire to become bandits or outlaws. Banditry was a skilled trade—one had to be able to rob successfully while also evading government pursuit. By comparison, returning to one's village to farm and live out one's days was far more secure.

Liu Chengyou had expected results, but not better than he had anticipated. One should not underestimate the significance of this figure of two hundred ten thousand—after decades of war, the entire Central Plains did not have much population left.

Most importantly, Liu Chengyou had little confidence in the execution capabilities of the prefects, generals, and officials governing the Great Han's territories. All he sought was for the regions to return to order as quickly as possible and resume production—however many could be recruited and settled, so be it.

"Your Majesty set the deadline for bandits to come down from the mountains and submit—it is nearly at an end. Those ignorant folk, even if cunning and hard to tame, defying imperial civilization, must still fear the government's suppression campaigns." Yang Bin appeared very natural, and in his natural tone was a contempt for the common people.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou's brow furrowed slightly, and he sighed inwardly. Yang Bin's attitude toward the common people was practically treating them as pigs and dogs. With such an attitude, if he served as chancellor governing the state, it would be a wonder if the Great Han could endure long.

"During the process of recruiting bandits back to submission, several prefectures and counties handled matters with proper methods and appropriate arrangements." Yang Bin continued speaking, seemingly hinting at something to Liu Chengyou.

Liu Chengyou clearly sensed his meaning. He exchanged a look with Yang Bin for a while, then said slowly: "Those who have rendered merit should be rewarded according to their deeds. Minister Yang oversees the Ministry of Personnel—you may handle it yourself."

"Your minister obeys the command!" Yang Bin clasped his hands in salute.

At this moment, Su Fengji interjected from the side, speaking to Liu Chengyou with some agitation: "Your Majesty, those bandits who still hide in the mountains and refuse to submit must be determined not to become subjects of the Great Han. Toward these obstinate and unrepentant types, we must no longer show soft-heartedness. The court should issue edicts to the prefectural governments, ordering them to prepare for bandit suppression, to thoroughly eliminate those bandits who wreak havoc on local villages, and restore peace to the realm!"

Seeing Su Fengji's murderous demeanor, Liu Chengyou knew that this man's killing intent had risen again.

"As for bandits and outlaws, I naturally cannot tolerate them disturbing the localities and undermining the Great Han's national policy of recuperation and recovery!" Liu Chengyou clasped his hands behind his back, paced a few steps, then raised a finger and instructed: "Issue the decree—the military governors, surveillance commissioners, militia commissioners, defense commissioners, and prefects of all circuits and prefectures under heaven shall suppress the bandits within their respective jurisdictions, sparing no effort to eliminate the scourge of banditry!"

"Furthermore, inform the localities: use both suppression and pacification, with pacification as the primary and suppression as the primary—minimize killing!" Finally, Liu Chengyou added a stern admonition.

On the first day of the third month, the emperor did not hold court, because Gaozu's coffin was still in mourning. Having stabilized the situation and secured his throne, Liu Chengyou began to emphasize propriety.

That day, eight hundred seventy-one carefully selected officers and soldiers of the Shu army captured in the great victory at Jifeng Mountain were escorted to the Eastern Capital to present the victory report, all the way to the palace gates. Liu Chengyou ascended the gate tower to receive the offering, then issued an edict releasing all the Shu soldiers, providing them with clothing, and establishing the Huaiwei Command to command them.

In Chuigong Hall, all irrelevant persons were kept far away. Li Shaoyou stood below with head bowed and hands lowered, quietly awaiting Liu Chengyou's reaction.

Liu Chengyou sat upright behind the imperial desk, holding the report Li Shaoyou had submitted. It detailed some intelligence gathered in the few days since the Wude Office had been established.

All were recent events.

For example, the prefect's position in Ruzhou was vacant, and Su Fengji had found a candidate and sought to sell the post by force, demanding a price of five thousand strings of cash.

After court, Yang Bin and Su Fengji had argued at the palace gate over the order of exiting.

Chancellor Dou Zhengu had hosted a banquet at his home, entertaining friends.

Chancellor Su Yugui's household servant had been conducting trade on his behalf, broken faith and reneged on agreements, swallowing merchants' goods. When the merchants lodged complaints, Su Yugui instructed the Administrative Assistant of Kaifeng to suppress them.

Shi Hongzhao had a close confidant named Xie Hui who ran rampant and broke the law. When commoners offended him, he would lead his subordinates to forcibly drag them into the Imperial Guard Command's prison for torture.

Yang Bin's second son, Yang Tingwei, had debauched the wife of a military officer under his command, and was discovered. Yang Tingwei, relying on his father's power, took the man's wife and had the officer exiled.

In short, there was basically nothing good.

With a "slap" sound, Liu Chengyou heavily set down the report in his hand.

The atmosphere in the hall became noticeably more tense. After a long silence, Liu Chengyou finally said flatly: "Quite a lot of intelligence, isn't there."

"These are my ministers! And this is only what was uncovered in recent days—one can only imagine the filth that has never been discovered!" Liu Chengyou vented.

"Keep investigating for me! Report everything, great and small, without exception!"

Sensing Liu Chengyou's anger, Li Shaoyou kept his head down and answered in a low voice: "Yes!"

"Your Majesty..." When Liu Chengyou's anger had subsided somewhat, Li Shaoyou called out softly, hesitating: "There is one more matter—I know not whether I should speak of it!"

"Since you've already spoken up, why put on such a show?" Liu Chengyou glanced at him: "Speak!"

"It concerns His Royal Highness, your uncle Liu Xin..." Li Shaoyou said, carefully watching Liu Chengyou's reaction.

Sure enough, a dark flash seemed to pass through Liu Chengyou's eyes, and his gaze sharpened: "What matter?"

"The day before yesterday, a captain in the army committed an offense. His Royal Highness learned of it, sent men to bring him to the official office, summoned his wife and children, and had them sliced and cut before him, forcing him to eat their flesh..."

After Li Shaoyou finished speaking, Liu Chengyou fell silent.

After a long while more, he finally let out a long sigh: "I am aware."