Chapter 2033: The Final Journey 2

Ezhou had been a key military stronghold guarding the middle reaches of the Yangtze since ancient times, and after thirty years of development, its economic level had risen rapidly, gradually showing signs of catching up with the circuit seat at Jiangling Prefecture.

There was no other reason — all things considered, Ezhou's geographic position was more advantageous, radiating in all directions, closer to the core ruling region like the imperial domain, and nearer to the fertile heartland of Jianghuai. Convenient land and water transport made merchant travel easy, population movement frequent, and the unprecedented commercial atmosphere drove Ezhou's prosperity.

Whatever the situation elsewhere, here in Ezhou, at least the development of Jiangxia, the prefectural seat, had always been on an upward trajectory, and had yet to hit its ceiling. Though fiscal revenue growth had slowed somewhat, it still improved every year. As for population, Jiangxia's city walls had long since surpassed one hundred thousand. Over the past twenty years, cities of a hundred thousand households had been appearing throughout the Great Han, but Jiangxia's development still exceeded many people's expectations.

Growth in population, economy, and fiscal revenue naturally drove political advancement as well. The elevation of Jiangxia County had been settled seven years earlier, with the Jiangxia County Magistrate holding the rank of Upper Fifth Grade, Grade Two.

Due to the development of "urbanization," many county magistrates in the Great Han now held higher ranks than their posts normally warranted, as with Jiangxia. Likewise, the Prefectural Administrator of Ezhou had been elevated to the Third Grade, Grade Two.

The Prefectural Administrator of Ezhou, named Sun Yue, was forty-three years old, right in the golden political period of an official's career. His background was by no means ordinary — he was the grandson of Sun Guangxian, the former Administration Commissioner of the Jinghu North Circuit.

Sun Guangxian was even more exceptional. He had once been the head of the civil officials of the separatist Jingnan regime, serving three generations of the Wang clan of Nanping. Of course, these were not the things Sun Guangxian was most proud of. What the Great Han court valued more was that, when the imperial army marched south to pacify Chu, Sun Guangxian had strongly advocated submitting to the Han and had successfully persuaded the King of Nanping, Gao Baorong, to surrender his territory.

The court had taken the three prefectures of Nanping and several hundred thousand soldiers and civilians without a single drop of blood spilled. Their money, grain, troops, horses, carts, and ships were all put to use by the Han army, proving greatly beneficial both for the pacification of Chu at the time and the later campaign against Shu.

With his outstanding performance, Sun Guangxian caught the eye of the old Emperor. The court needed such men of foresight, and few criticized Sun Guangxian for betraying his master for glory or offering up land in exchange for office — that was called following Heaven's will.

As for Sun Guangxian himself, he was proud of this act. He once told his guests: in his youth he had drifted through many places, and though he had been promoted by the Gao clan, he had rendered no merit to the state and no benefit to the people, passing decades in mediocrity. To accomplish such a feat on the verge of death, he had no regrets in this life.

These words certainly carried a hint of gilding his own reputation — surrender was surrender, yet he still had to spin it into a grand principle. All in all, Sun Guangxian's skin was somewhat thick, and one could even say his private virtue was lacking.

However, the subsequent development of Sun Guangxian and the Sun clan proved the correctness of that choice with the most practical results. Sun Guangxian was first appointed Prefect of Jiangling, responsible for the pacification and aftermath work in the three prefectures of Nanping. Later, as one of the "leaders of the southern officials," he was transferred up to the imperial domain as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. At the advanced age of sixty-six, he was dispatched as Administration Commissioner of the Jinghu North Circuit, and at seventy, he retired with honor and enjoyed his remaining years in peace.

To this day, Sun Guangxian had been deceased for twenty-three years, but the legacy he left to his descendants and clansmen still played an important role. Both his sons had passed the metropolitan examination with distinction and both had served as high officials in circuit governments. By the third generation, Sun Yue, at just over forty, had taken office as Prefectural Administrator of Ezhou, the second most important upper prefecture in the Jinghu North Circuit — here, family background still exerted its special influence.

The Emperor's visit was naturally a momentous affair for Ezhou. Regarding the old Emperor's southern tour, some felt pressure or even fear, while others were overjoyed, feeling a rare opportunity had arrived. In Shenzhou, Wang Qinruo was like this, Liu Jiqian was like this, and here in Ezhou, Sun Yue was the same.

Given Sun Yue's current age and rank, advancement was inevitable. He had served in Ezhou for over four years with good performance. Though he had no outstanding achievements, being able to ensure the stable development of Ezhou, especially Jiangxia, was itself a skill. The ability to maintain stability was a bureaucratic quality the court valued highly and an important assessment item. According to the court's promotion system, it was time for him to be moved.

By convention, Sun Yue's next step would either be a transfer to another major prefecture, basically the circuit seat, or a position in the circuit government as a counselor or head of one of the departments, or perhaps a transfer up to the imperial domain to be tempered at the center. In any case, barring unexpected circumstances, it would be a major step forward in his career, setting foot on a new stage of life.

In fact, given Ezhou's current status in the Jinghu North Circuit, as its chief official, Sun Yue had already touched the heights his father and uncle had once reached. What he wanted was clearly more — to stand higher and see the view from above.

His Sun clan, apart from the time of his grandfather Sun Guangxian when they had barely squeezed into the circle of power at the center, had actually always been circling within the Jinghu North Circuit. For the past twenty-plus years, they had basically never left the circuit, and their influence was even steadily shrinking.

Even Sun Guangxian, when he served in the Ministry of Rites, had only touched the outer periphery of the Great Han's circle of privilege, never able to penetrate deeply. No matter how high one's local prestige or how great one's power and influence, before the truly eminent, one still had to tuck one's tail between one's legs. This was the most authentic portrayal of the Great Han's rigid hierarchy from top to bottom.

This was precisely what Sun Yue was determined to break. Given his current situation, he still had some chance. But if he truly wanted to achieve a breakthrough quickly, he needed those opportunities that came once in a decade — such as the Emperor's tour.

In many cases, people's thoughts really did converge. In essence, Sun Yue was not much different from Wang Qinruo or Liu Jiqian. Of course, people think, people worry, and their ideas change, especially with the times.

The things the old Emperor had done in Shenzhou, the officials he had dealt with, were quite intimidating. The effect of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys was still very pronounced. At the very least, Sun Yue harbored doubts.

Fortunately, he did not have to worry about this alone. After receiving news of the imperial tour in Jiangling, Fan Zhigu, the incumbent Administration Commissioner of the Jinghu North Circuit, quickly brought several assistant officials, traveling by starlight over three hundred li, specifically to Ezhou to await the imperial carriage.

According to Sun Yue's original plan, he would lead all the officials of the prefecture to the prefectural border, or even further north to Anzhou, to welcome the Emperor. Jiangxia city would also be fully prepared — food, clothing, lodging, welcome performances, and even auspicious omens had been considered.

But once Fan Zhigu arrived, he rejected all of Sun Yue's ideas, demanding that Ezhou follow the imperial edict and keep everything simple, without extravagant display. He also required that Jiangxia remain exactly as it was — when the imperial carriage arrived, Jiangxia should still be what it had been.

Sometimes, it was a case of caring too much. The Emperor had already spelled out the answer, yet some people still couldn't copy it. Of course, it was impossible to have no preparation at all — at least in terms of public security and stability, no amount of strict restraint was excessive.

As for Sun Yue's worries — fearing on one hand to slight the imperial presence and on the other to incur the Emperor's rectification — in Fan Zhigu's view, these were truly the anxieties of the man of Qi who feared the sky falling. Ezhou had not built a traveling palace, nor had it abused the people. Even across the entire Jinghu North Circuit, all major projects in recent years had been carried out according to regulations. Even if there were problems, find the people responsible and deal with them — that was all.

When the imperial carriage went on tour, could it return without accomplishments, just passing by with smiles and laughter? The old Emperor had to deal with some corrupt officials and solve some livelihood problems to demonstrate the positive significance of the inspection.

If someone at Sun Yue's level as Prefectural Administrator of Ezhou still had to be anxious and fearful, that could only mean he himself had problems. An upper prefecture administrator of the Third Grade, Grade Two, had normally already risen above the ordinary bureaucratic class. Generally speaking, even when killing a chicken, at such a rank, the court would deliberate carefully — unless he had provoked the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people.

Of course, the old Emperor was the one person who could ignore all conventions. Let alone an upper prefecture administrator — even an Administration Commissioner, a Commander, a minister of the departments, or a chancellor of the Hall of State Affairs, given his current state of mind, he could manipulate them as he pleased.

However, compared to Sun Yue, Fan Zhigu was far more confident and had far more backing. After all, he was a minister personally promoted by the old Emperor, had previously been summoned to Taikang Palace for an audience, and had a basic read on the old Emperor's condition. For him personally, there was no great problem.

Fan Zhigu's original name was Ruoshui. His ancestral home was Chang'an, and he grew up in Chizhou. In terms of broad political affiliation, he belonged to the southern officials — specifically, the "new faction" among them.

Though he had grown up during the rule of the Southern Tang, he had never formally served that regime. His path into office was through the court's regular civil service examinations. Fan Zhigu had caught a good time. Writing essays and pursuing scholarship were his weaknesses, but investigating things to attain knowledge and applying learning to practical governance were his strengths.

In the seventh year of Kaibao, Fan Zhigu went to the capital for the examinations and passed as a metropolitan graduate, scoring especially high on the policy essay. According to rumor, had his "basic knowledge" not been somewhat "weak," he might well have placed in the top tier.

Thereafter, he observed governance for three years, then was transferred to the Ministry of Works as a supervisor in the Water Department, due to his expertise in river hydrology. Later, for his meritorious supervision of the Hongze Reservoir, he was transferred to Fanyang County in the Yannan Circuit as County Magistrate.

Over the following decade-plus, his rise was meteoric. He successively served as Administrative Assistant of Youzhou, Prefectural Administrator of Xuanzhou, and Prefectural Administrator of Ezhou, until the twenty-fifth year of Kaibao, when he was promoted to Fiscal Commissioner of Jianghuai. His transfer to the Jinghu North Circuit had come only two years ago.

As a southern scholar of ordinary background, Fan Zhigu's uninterrupted rise — reaching circuit chief in just twenty-two years — owed much to personal ability, but that was not the decisive factor.

It required a certain measure of luck, and in the current realm, the greatest fortune for any official under Heaven was to be held in the Emperor's heart. Fan Zhigu was such a lucky one. A regional magnate under fifty was truly rare in the current Great Han. Among those of similar background, the only one who could surpass Fan Zhigu was Zhang Qixian.

With Fan Zhigu in charge, when the imperial carriage was respectfully welcomed into Jiangxia city by the officials of the Jinghu North Circuit, the old Emperor's overall impression was quite comfortable. The old Emperor at this point truly did not need local officials to do much, and he hated all that concealment and pretense.

The scene of entering Anyang back then was naturally compared to Jiangxia now — the difference between the two was like heaven and earth.

The government could organize the gentry and commoners to line up in welcome, could arrange their positions, could control order — but it could not control their expressions. And there were tens of thousands of them.

He still remembered that the gentry and commoners of Anyang, when welcoming the imperial carriage, showed only misery and oppression. Some even had sallow, malnourished faces.

Here in Jiangxia, the cheering voices were full-throated and deafening, the surging crowds brimming with vitality and life. Most faces radiated enthusiasm and joy, or curiosity and reverence toward the Son of Heaven. One could see that the gentry and commoners of Ezhou — at least a good portion of the common folk — were satisfied with their current lives.

Emotion is contagious. In such an atmosphere, even being treated like a "rare specimen," the old Emperor's heart was still pleased. Thus, when the talks began at the prefectural office, the old Emperor's attitude was far more amiable, and he even praised the Ezhou officials led by Sun Yue.

Consequently, he paid more attention to Sun Yue as Prefectural Administrator. When inquiring about the governance of Ezhou, the well-prepared Sun Yue responded methodically and unhurriedly, even to tricky questions. He neither claimed undue credit nor concealed shortcomings, striving to present a "true" picture without deceiving the sovereign.

Of course, it was also because the old Emperor had little inclination to make trouble. Otherwise, not to mention Sun Yue, even Fan Zhigu would have found it hard to cope.

Upon learning that Sun Yue was Sun Guangxian's grandson, the old Emperor grew even more interested — he still had some memory of that old man. This naturally stirred up some recollections and reflections: "I remember the surrender of Nanping — that must be nearly forty years ago now. It truly is quite distant! Looking back suddenly, Lord Sun has passed, and even his grandson has become a pillar of the Great Han!"

This evaluation from the old Emperor was practically gospel to Sun Yue — he was nearly intoxicated hearing it. With these words from the Son of Heaven, his next posting could not be bad. So many people had heard the old Emperor's words clearly — he, Sun Yue, was a pillar of the Great Han!

His heart wild with joy, but his face still struggling to restrain it, Sun Yue bowed deeply to the old Emperor: "Your Majesty overpraises me. Your servant truly does not deserve it. I can only devote my utmost effort and serve the state with loyalty."

The old Emperor smiled faintly. Seeing his respectful demeanor, his eyes turned slightly, a trace of doubt flashing through them, and he asked: "Speaking of which, your family has served as officials for three generations now. What is your father's current situation?"

Somewhat unable to grasp the old Emperor's train of thought, Sun Yue knew that his old father Sun Wei had no connection with the Son of Heaven. In his entire life, he seemed to have had only three opportunities to face the Emperor: the first two at the palace examination and the Qionglin Banquet, and the third when he was promoted to Prefectural Administrator of Yuezhou.

No matter how puzzled he was, Sun Yue dared not be negligent in answering the old Emperor's question. He replied respectfully: "To answer Your Majesty, since my father retired from office, he has been living in his hometown of Jiangling in retirement."

"Your uncle is still in office, I take it?"

"Your Majesty, Sun Yue's uncle Sun Dang also passed the metropolitan examination and currently serves as a counselor in the Jinghu North Circuit. He is quite capable and is your servant's able assistant." Seeing that the old Emperor's attitude toward the Sun family was favorable, Fan Zhigu also spoke up at this point, smiling lightly to do the Suns a good turn.

Hearing this, the old Emperor's gaze fell on Sun Yue, whose joy was nearly spilling onto his brows, and said leisurely: "The Sun clan truly deserves to be called a prominent family of Jiangling! Three generations, three metropolitan graduates, all serving in the Jinghu North Circuit for decades, all rising to high office in circuit prefectures — truly not easy."

The old Emperor's words carried a somewhat profound meaning. While praising the Sun clan's prestige and influence in the Jinghu North Circuit, they also hinted at a trace of suspicion.

Sun Yue sensed something amiss and furrowed his brows slightly. Fan Zhigu's heart gave a jolt — His Majesty is suspicious! Damn it, how could I have forgotten the basic principle of "serving away from one's home region"!

In the appointment of officials above the prefecture and county level, the court had always emphasized serving in a different locality. But in fact, only the circuit government level truly achieved this. Below that, it was somewhat lax — cases like Sun Yue serving in a different prefecture within the same circuit were not uncommon. But if one truly investigated this strictly according to court regulations, then from the Ministry of Personnel down to the Jinghu North Circuit, everyone would bear responsibility.

In that instant, Fan Zhigu had already secretly decided: Sun Yue absolutely could not be transferred up to the circuit government. Even Sun Dang would have to be transferred away as soon as possible, letting that old man retire somewhere else.

Fan Zhigu's reaction was, all in all, somewhat excessive. But there was no help for it — it was lonely at the top. When it came to the Emperor, a man who could decide one's fate, one had to be cautious. Better to overthink than to suffer misfortune through carelessness and neglect.

Fortunately, the old Emperor did not pursue the matter further. He mentioned it in passing, then put on a weary expression and said to the cluster of Hubei officials who stood in deferential postures: "That will be all for today. I am tired; you may take your leave!"

Upon hearing this instruction, Fan Zhigu's face showed hesitation. Seeing this, the old Emperor's brows knitted slightly as he asked: "What, is there something else?"

At the question, Fan Zhigu hurriedly replied: "To answer Your Majesty, your ministers have prepared a banquet at the Yellow Crane Tower and would presume to invite Your Majesty to grace it with your presence."

Hearing such an invitation, the old Emperor's first reaction was to refuse — even to feel somewhat annoyed. He had repeatedly and explicitly ordered that this inspection tour was not to involve lavish displays or waste by local authorities, and here, at the very first stop in Ezhou, someone dared to violate his decree.

However, upon hearing it was the Yellow Crane Tower, the old Emperor did develop some interest, and said: "Having come to Jiangxia City, how could one not go see the Yellow Crane Tower!"

Whether to convince himself or others, the old Emperor thought for a moment, then instructed further: "Having rulers and ministers alone is somewhat lacking — there should also be scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. On this southern tour, besides examining the governance of the southern states, I also wish to observe the myriad facets of human life and hear of the joys and sorrows of the common people.

Select some representatives from among the scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, and good citizens of Jiangxia, and let them attend this night banquet at the Yellow Crane Tower together. I will receive them personally!"

"Yes!"

The fame of the Yellow Crane Tower needs no elaboration. From the moment Cui Hao ascended it and inscribed that poem, "The Yellow Crane Tower," it became a renowned tower of the realm, drawing countless literati and poets who came in admiration.

The Yellow Crane Tower's former glory belonged to the High Tang, and it bore witness to the strength and prosperity of the Great Tang during the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras. In those days, what people came to behold when ascending the tower was not merely the bustling splendor of the Yellow Crane Tower itself, but the radiance and magnificence of the Great Tang Empire.

Of course, the Yellow Crane Tower that now stands atop Serpent Mountain is a rebuilt structure — a Yellow Crane Tower belonging to the Great Han. It was reconstructed in the fifteenth year of Qianyou, with funding led by the Ezhou prefectural government at the time, supplemented by donations from the worthies and wealthy households of the prefectural city. Officials and commoners worked together to rebuild the Yellow Crane Tower as a tribute project commemorating the old Emperor's unification of the realm.

The old Emperor had some recollection of this matter. Beside the memorial archway at the foot of the Yellow Crane Tower stood a stele bearing an inscription — besides a rhapsodic essay recording the reconstruction of the tower, it also bore the chiseled names of all who had donated at the time.

Unknowingly, a full thirty years had passed since the reconstruction of the Yellow Crane Tower. It had undergone several repairs, and considering the old Emperor's southern tour, the prefectural government had recently made an emergency allocation of funds and conscripted craftsmen to carry out a large-scale renovation of the tower's structure.

The tower was a new tower, but thirty years of vicissitudes had passed, and the new Yellow Crane Tower had likewise borne witness to the arrival of yet another era of peace and prosperity.

History is a cycle. The scenes that had appeared during the High Tang now appeared at the Yellow Crane Tower once more, in the Kaibao flourishing age of the Great Han.

In the night sky, the starlight was dim, but above and below the Yellow Crane Tower, lanterns blazed brightly and the atmosphere ran high. Along both banks of the river, it was even more lively — a scene of brilliant lights everywhere. Pleasure boats drifted on the river, lantern markets lined the shores, and fireworks burst in the night sky overhead from time to time.

Standing on the third floor, leaning against the railing and gazing into the distance, one could both appreciate the pleasant river scenery and behold the splendor of Jiangxia City. Filled with scenes of prosperity on all sides and surrounded by clamorous sounds of festivity, the old Emperor truly felt a moment of intoxication.

This was the proper visage of the Kaibao flourishing age. What era had no contradictions, what society had no shadows, what nation had no ugliness? What he had witnessed before could only be a facet of the Great Han Empire — it could never represent the whole of the Great Han.

This vast empire, built single-handedly by him and developed to its present state, also had its glorious and resplendent side, and possessed many commendable qualities. He, Emperor Liu — whatever personal criticisms might be leveled against him — his achievements were always real and substantial.

The dynastic cycle theory! Even if his Great Han Empire was destined one day to fall, just for having ended a century of chaos, unified the realm, and given the masses several decades of stability and peace, this merit could never be erased!

The historical tapestry of the past forty-odd years had, after all, been painted by his own hand; hundreds of millions of subjects had, after all, forged this era under his leadership. He, Emperor Liu, had fulfilled his responsibility to history.

At this thought, the old Emperor's eyes, clouded for so long, grew bright, reflecting the splendid river scenery beyond the Yellow Crane Tower, flickering with a long-suppressed excitement.

At this moment, only Fan Zhigu, a single courtier from outside the imperial household, attended the old Emperor. He had been carefully watching the old Emperor's demeanor the entire time, his mood rising and falling almost in tandem with every change in the Emperor's expression.

Suddenly, the old Emperor pointed at Jiangxia City on the riverbank in the distance and said: "Minister Fan, this new city of Jiangxia was built under your direction, was it not!"

After the Kaibao era began, Jiangxia had undergone more than twenty years of rapid development. Though considerable progress had been made in urban construction, minor repairs and small additions could never truly meet the needs of the populace. It was not until Fan Zhigu assumed the post of Prefectural Administrator of Ezhou that he resolutely made the decision, mobilized the entire prefecture, raised funds, and carried out unified planning — undertaking a great reconstruction and great expansion on the basis of the old city.

And Fan Zhigu's greatest achievement during his tenure in Ezhou was precisely the construction of the new city of Jiangxia. It was his resolute decision that brought about the new city's present grandeur, and truly made Ezhou's status as a major prefecture well-deserved.

At this moment, hearing the old Emperor bring it up, Fan Zhigu's face was full of emotion. Stroking his beard, he said: "Forgive your minister for speaking frankly — when the new city was being built back then, it was truly not easy. We encountered many difficulties, and its successful completion was inseparable from the enthusiastic support of superiors and subordinates alike! In my three years in Ezhou, I did nothing else but undertake major construction works, and to this day there are still those who accuse me of wasting manpower and resources."

"If this is wasting manpower and resources, then what of the construction of the Two Capitals back then?" The old Emperor said immediately upon hearing this: "That is the talk of mediocre men — no need to pay it any heed. Three years to build one city, hardship for a time, but the long-term benefit goes to the people of Jiangxia! Look at this mortal smoke and fire — truly intoxicating!"

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" Fan Zhigu said, cupping his hands in salute.

The old Emperor turned his head to look at him, appreciation in his gaze: "In Xuanzhou you promoted the great development of Xuan paper, and in Ezhou you built a new city. Do you know why I have repeatedly promoted you? It is because I recognized your ability to get things done!"

"Your Majesty's favor — your minister will remember it for life, and can never repay it!" Fan Zhigu immediately pledged his loyalty.

"Wine!"

The old Emperor called out behind him, and soon Hu De presented the wine. Raising his cup in invitation, the old Emperor said to Fan Zhigu with hearty emotion: "Drink with me — a toast to the Yellow Crane Tower, a toast to Jiangxia City, and a toast to this peaceful and prosperous world."