Chapter 2047: The Final Journey 15

As the Great Han continued its outward expansion and development, economic and cultural exchanges between East and West grew increasingly frequent, and the number of foreign merchants and envoys traveling the maritime and overland trade routes naturally increased year after year. Over decades of accumulation, the population of foreigners settling within the realm had become extraordinarily large—within the jurisdiction of Guangzhou Prefecture alone there were several hundred thousand, let alone across the whole country.

With so many foreign guests, it was hardly surprising that places like Fanfang Street—districts set aside exclusively for foreigners from various nations to reside and do business—should exist. Not to mention Guangzhou Prefecture, even the two capitals and their surrounding metropolitan regions had such foreign quarters.

Thus, the old Emperor's displeasure with the foreign quarter in Panyu City was not directed at the quarter's existence itself; the cause of his anger lay in the corresponding administrative system, and at root, in the local government offices of Guangzhou and even the entire Guangnan East Circuit.

The Great Han Empire had thrown its doors wide open, actively engaging in foreign exchange and welcoming overseas merchants to come and trade, even permitting them to settle long-term. But one thing had to be made clear: this openness had its bottom line, and there was one especially important precondition—all foreign merchants and guests must submit to government administration, accept the binding force of Great Han law, and even follow local customs.

To this end, the court had even issued a dedicated set of "Regulations for the Administration of Foreign Merchant Residents," which strictly and explicitly stipulated the government's administrative responsibilities and the restrictive conditions imposed on foreigners.

In the two capitals, these regulations were naturally implemented to the letter. But in Guangzhou Prefecture, the situation was not optimistic—it was not merely a matter of lax enforcement; the serious problem was a deficiency in the foreigner administration system itself. The Guangzhou authorities had given the foreigners within their jurisdiction far too much freedom, to the point of exceeding the bottom line in the old Emperor's heart.

The old Emperor supported openness in action and welcomed foreign merchants coming and going, but deep in his heart, he was always on guard. Tolerance was his exterior; suspicion was his interior.

In particular, these foreign merchant residents were not just barbarians from the Great Han's "old, young, border, and poor" regions—they also included people from places not even nominally under Great Han rule, originating from another civilization entirely—

Namely, the Arabs. Guangzhou Prefecture happened to be the empire's largest Arab settlement at present. These people had crossed the seas via the Maritime Silk Road, some arriving as early as two hundred years ago, putting down roots in Guangzhou, surviving and multiplying in this place where the Central Empire's radiating power was relatively weak...

In fact, even the Arabs themselves were not so terrifying—the old Emperor's breadth of mind and magnanimity were not so narrow as that. What truly made him wary was that religion known as Islam.

The old Emperor's attitude toward religion had always been prejudiced, and toward Islam in particular, he harbored deep-seated hatred and contempt—his loathing and disdain could be said to be deeply ingrained.

Toward the Islamic world, the two sides had been in a state of hostility since the Great Han's western expedition destroyed the Kara-Khanid state. When Liu Min carried out his "religion-elimination" in Anxi, and the old Emperor simultaneously implemented prohibition policies at home, launching large-scale exclusion and extermination of Muslims, the contradictions between the two sides deepened further.

Domestically, it might not have been so obvious—mere foreigners could not overturn heaven—but in the Anxi and Gaochang regions, the hatred ran as deep as the sea. As the Anxi Protectorate began carrying out religious reform of "keeping heads but not the faith" over its jurisdiction, it was like pouring oil on fire, exploding without cease.

The situation in Anxi was already thus, yet for officials and commoners in the interior of the country, the feeling was hard to grasp as deeply as if they had experienced it firsthand. But places like Guangzhou Prefecture, which thought themselves beyond the reach of imperial authority, harbored no vigilance whatsoever, and even openly paid lip service to the court while acting in opposition—that was something the old Emperor could not tolerate.

In Panyu City's Fanfang Street, the mere presence of numerous mosques and the daily prayer activities carried out there were enough to enrage the old Emperor. Back then, when the court issued its edict ordering the suppression of Islam, it had begun with the destruction of those mosques—and Guangzhou Prefecture had either failed to realize how seriously the court regarded this matter, or simply did not take the court's edict seriously. Whichever it was, the crime was unforgivable!

Beyond the religious issue, what made the old Emperor even angrier was the laxity—verging on laissez-faire—in Guangzhou Prefecture's foreigner administration system. Those foreign quarters were left entirely to self-governance, and the situation had become so severe that Han people found it hard to enter, and Han officials found it hard to govern.

That Guangzhou Prefecture, this "international metropolis," should contain such a "state within a state"—one could imagine what thoughts the old Emperor would have upon witnessing it.

The Panyu Traveling Palace, Dacheng Hall—this was where the old Emperor had chosen to stay.

Having finished a day of inspections and returned to the traveling palace, before entering the hall, the old Emperor stopped in his steps and raised a hand. The palace eunuchs, generals, and guards keeping close at his side all instinctively bowed at the waist, awaiting orders.

"Go, summon Zhang Ji and Liu Changyan for me!" the old Emperor instructed Hu De, then after a moment's deliberation added: "Find Hou Yanguang as well!"

"Yes!" Hu De replied decisively.

The old Emperor's expression was quite natural, and his tone not particularly stern, but Hu De, who knew him well, understood clearly that His Majesty was very angry right now—and very dangerous. In winter, darkness fell far too quickly; in the blink of an eye, the entire sky was shrouded in night. Naturally, Panyu City's lively and rich nightlife also began—within the city, ten thousand household lamps were lit, and among the palace buildings, lights flowed and glittered.

Outside the brightly lit Dacheng Hall, three figures arrived in haste. The first to reach was a refined elderly man of about fifty, clad in purple robes, with caution showing between his brows—he was Liu Changyan, Prefect of Guangzhou.

Liu Changyan was a native of Quanzhou. In his youth, he had served under Chen Hongjin, then Military Governor of Zhang-Quan, but before long, before he had accomplished anything, the imperial army had come south, sweeping across the southern states, and he had become a compliant subject of the Great Han along with Chen Hongjin.

Liu Changyan could be said to have grown up in the old society and lived in the new era. He first served as a minor official in Quanzhou, and later, when Chen Hongjin returned to his hometown to visit relatives, he was recommended to go to the capital for the examinations, where he passed and became a jinshi.

He was a thoroughly southern official, bearing a clear "Zhang-Quan" mark. His own ability was one factor, and the early assistance of Chen Hongjin was another, but more importantly, he had later been promoted by Chancellor Zhao Pu.

His appointment as Prefect of Guangzhou was also due to Zhao Pu's recommendation after he became chancellor for the second time. Thus, among the circuit-level officials of Guangnan East, Liu Changyan could be considered to have deep backing.

The winter night wind blowing against one's body was quite cold. Standing outside the hall, Liu Changyan could not help but shrink his neck and rub his hands. Gazing at the wide-open hall doors, he also could not help but hesitate—alone, he truly did not dare to go in for an audience with the old Emperor.

Fortunately, before he could hesitate for long, a figure hurried over from beneath the lantern-lit corridor. Drawing near, he saw it was a robust, stern-faced middle-aged man in a general's uniform—Hou Yanguang, Chief Commander of Guangnan East Circuit.

Hou Yanguang came from an extraordinary family. His grandfather was Hou Yi, who had once been Military Governor of Fengxiang—a notable figure in the early Han, implicated in suspicions of colluding with the Meng Shu concerning the stability of the Great Han's western frontier, yet ultimately preserving his family's wealth and honor, and even being enfeoffed as Duke of Lu (later stripped of the title).

His father was Hou Renju, a great general of the northern expeditions. During the Kaibao northern campaign, he had led cavalry charging across the Liaoxi Corridor, earning distinguished military merit, and later commanded troops in the northeast for a long time. When Hou Renju fell ill and died young, the old Emperor had issued a special edict of mourning, declaring that the Great Han had lost a pillar of the military.

Over the decades, the Hou family had become a great clan of the Great Han, wielding considerable influence in both military and political spheres, with no low rate of producing capable talents. Hou Yanguang was the standout among the third generation. But to become a circuit Chief Commander before the age of fifty, in charge of all military affairs of Guangnan East—besides family background, he had some real ability of his own.

Seeing Hou Yanguang, Liu Changyan immediately went up to greet him, cupping his hands in salute: "This subordinate pays respects to Chief General Hou!"

Glancing at Liu Changyan, a slight surprise showed on Hou Yanguang's face: "Prefect Liu is here as well?"

Liu Changyan kept his posture very low, speaking softly: "His Majesty has summoned us—might you know what for?"

"Once we have had our audience with His Majesty, we shall know!" Sensing the man's probing intent, Hou Yanguang's face showed no reaction, and he replied with great composure.

As the two exchanged probing pleasantries, the heavyweight figure arrived belatedly—Zhang Ji, the incumbent Administration Commissioner of Guangnan East Circuit.