Chapter 206: The Son of Heaven Comes Calling

Zhao Hui had once served as a personal guard before Li Cunxu's tent. Though more than twenty years had passed, he still retained a measure of awe for the late Zhuangzong...

The night was already deep. Two carriages made their way leisurely through the streets of Luoyang. As the curfew hour approached, the patrols between the wards had grown much stricter, and along the way they even encountered a wave of imperial army inspectors. However, seeing that these were the Military Governors of the Baoyi Army and the Jianxiong Army whom the Son of Heaven had publicly praised and commended, they dared not question them further or give offense.

Passing through three wards in succession, the carriages came to a stop one after another before a tranquil courtyard. Zhao Hui and Wang Yan alighted, and Zhao Hui invited the other to come into his residence for a talk. He immediately noticed the situation before the mansion—the central gate was wide open, and under the dim glow of lanterns, a young officer leading several soldiers was pacing back and forth before the entrance. That was Zhao Hui's yabing officer.

Seeing this, Zhao Hui's brows knitted together. He stepped forward steadily and asked the yabing officer who hurried up to meet him: "What's going on?"

"Milord, you've finally returned!" The young yabing officer let out a sigh of relief, his face still carrying a hint of urgency as he reported: "The Son of Heaven is waiting for you inside the residence."

"What?" Zhao Hui's expression changed drastically.

The situation was simple: Liu Chengyou, finding himself with nothing to do in the palace, had specifically come out to visit Zhao Hui.

An imperial visit in person to call upon a minister—this was Liu Chengyou's first time doing so.

"Why didn't you report this earlier?" Suppressing his startled expression, Zhao Hui could not help but grow angry.

"The Son of Heaven said there was no need..." the yabing officer replied with a simple, honest look.

"You really do know how to obey orders!" Zhao Hui scolded him once.

At this moment, Wang Yan took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and said to Zhao Hui: "Brother Zhao, let us go face His Majesty!"

"The Son of Heaven gracing us with his presence in person—what great favor this is..." Zhao Hui let out a sigh.

Zhao Hui's residence in the Western Capital was not particularly luxurious; it was even somewhat ordinary. But this night, every part of the mansion—the corridors, the doorways, the courtyards—was guarded by palace imperial soldiers. As for Liu Chengyou, when he received word that Zhao Hui had returned to his residence, he was in the main hall, chatting with Zhao Hui's son, Zhao Yanjin, inquiring about matters concerning Shanzhou.

Zhao Yanjin was not yet twenty years old, but he truly lived up to the reputation of a tiger's cub from a general's family. He carried a sharp, spirited air. Before Liu Chengyou, though he was somewhat nervous, his responses were still proper and composed, and it was clear that his mind was very quick.

With Liu Chengyou having given advance instructions, Zhao Hui and Wang Yan hurried over. After passing through the security checks, they were able to proceed directly to an audience before the sovereign.

"Your subjects Zhao Hui (Wang Yan) pay respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" Liu Chengyou swept his gaze over the two men.

"Father."

Without paying attention to his son, Zhao Hui bowed with clasped hands: "How could I merit Your Majesty's presence in person? Your subject is truly overwhelmed with trepidation. For keeping Your Majesty waiting so long, your subject, your subject... I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Whether it was feigned or not, facing this young Son of Heaven Liu Chengyou, Zhao Hui's attitude was very proper.

Liu Chengyou wore a set of plain robes, but having been emperor for over a month now, the majesty of sovereignty was gradually growing upon him. Combined with his habitual severity, his presence was very imposing.

"Minister Zhao, there is no need for this. Rather, it is I who have been presumptuous in visiting unannounced, disturbing your household." Liu Chengyou said calmly.

"I would not dare."

He then looked toward Wang Yan: "Minister Wang is here as well?"

"Your Majesty." Wang Yan bowed again.

"Then I need not make another trip!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and took a sniff through his nose, as if catching the smell of wine on the two men, and said: "Tonight, Governor Hou must have treated the two of you to fine wine and good liquor, I take it..."

Hearing this, the two men immediately said in unison: "I beg Your Majesty to forgive us."

"The two ministers need not do this." Liu Chengyou ordered the palace eunuch accompanying him to present a small jar of wine, and said: "I came to your door today and also brought a jar of wine. Let us drink together, the two of you and I. This is fine wine produced from Xinghua Village—are the two ministers interested?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhao and Wang exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes. Noting Liu Chengyou's composure, so different from ordinary men, they grew even more wary of this young Son of Heaven in their hearts.

Liu Chengyou had naturally not come to Zhao Hui's place truly to drink wine with him. He ordered some simple meat dishes to be prepared, and they ate, drank, and talked. After letting the atmosphere brew for a moment, holding a cup in one hand before his waist and placing the other behind his back, Liu Chengyou said with emotion: "Last year, enemy cavalry drove deep and seized the two capitals. The Shi clan could not hold the Central Plains. Though the late Emperor thought of rescuing the drowning and turning south, he considered both his strength insufficient and worried that the people's hearts would not follow. Then the two of you were the first to rise at the outskirts of Shan, jointly supporting the righteous cause, and moved my father to make the decision to raise his army. Thus, in the rise of the Great Han, the two of you both contributed greatly!"

Liu Chengyou held the two men in high regard. But precisely because of this, the two instead grew somewhat hesitant: "Your Majesty overpraises us; we truly do not deserve it."

Seeing the expressions and reactions of the two old generals, only one phrase surfaced in Liu Chengyou's mind: overwhelmed by unexpected favor.

"The Great Han had just been established when heaven collapsed. I, with my insignificant person, have received the great succession. Yet I consider my virtue shallow and thin. Since ascending the throne, I have worried day and night. All around the Great Han, packs of wolves lurk: to the north the Khitan watches covetously, to the west the Meng Shu invades, to the south the Gao clan is fickle, the false Tang harbors treacherous designs, and to the northwest the Tangut harbor different intentions. Within, the people's livelihoods are in ruin, all industries fail to thrive, and corrupt governance is hard to suppress..."

"I think of the nation's poverty and the people's hardship, and I have the heart to govern well. Yet under internal troubles and external threats, my heart is pent up with worry, with scarcely a thread to grasp. Since my western tour, I have observed the people's condition and punished corruption and tyranny, but it still proves insufficient. And when the various governors came to the capital, I realized that if I am to hold the rivers and mountains, I need military stalwarts like the two ministers."

Faced with Liu Chengyou's repeated flattery, Zhao Hui and Wang Yan grew even more cautious.

"I have often thought lately that if the state is to enjoy lasting peace and stability, I must eliminate internal troubles and repel external invaders. Yet, to repel the external, one must first secure the internal..."

Facing Liu Chengyou's heartfelt outpouring, Zhao Hui and the others gradually entered the proper frame of mind.

"I have some idea of the external threats, but as for this internal trouble, may I ask what Your Majesty refers to?" Zhao Hui asked.

Hearing the question, Liu Chengyou turned around, his two fingers rotating the rim of his cup, his gaze sharp and fixed directly on Zhao Hui: "Minister Zhao truly does not know?"

"I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me."

Before Liu Chengyou could speak, Wang Yan spoke up on his own: "Does Your Majesty refer to Li Shouzhen of Hezhong and Xue Huairang of Tongzhou?"

Noting Wang Yan's stern expression, Liu Chengyou felt a slight surprise. This Governor Wang was clearly not as smooth as Zhao Hui. Draining the wine in his cup, Liu Chengyou raised his head and gazed into the distance at the faint crescent moon in the night sky, sighing softly: "The military governors are the foundation of the state. The various commanders defend the realm for the Great Han. As Son of Heaven, I naturally should not harbor baseless suspicions. Toward the Li clan of Hezhong, I and the court have already issued many gracious edicts of commendation. Yet during this period, I have still heard of their unusual movements and overstepping conduct, and my heart is often filled with worry and fear."

"Pu and Tong, the two prefectures, are separated by a single river, extending to the region west of the passes—they are vital ground for the state. If anything changes there, it will inevitably affect the Guanzhong region. The state has just been stabilized, and the people of the realm have not yet enjoyed a few days of peace. I truly do not wish for the calamity of war to rise again. However, I cannot but make preparations early."

Hearing Liu Chengyou speak to this point, Zhao Hui and Wang Yan immediately perked up.

"His heart is unclear. If the Li clan cannot suppress their treacherous intentions and recklessly raises rebellion in Puzhou, then I will spare no cost to pacify it." As he spoke, Liu Chengyou suddenly turned around and stared at the two men: "Jin, Jiang, and Shan, the three prefectures, form a pincer from north and south against Hezhong. I ask the two ministers: if Hezhong truly rebels, would you be willing to defend against it on my behalf?"

Faced with Liu Chengyou's blunt question, what reaction could the two men have? Without much hesitation, they spoke in turn:

"I am willing to devote my loyalty to Your Majesty!"

"Should Your Majesty but give the order, I would die ten thousand deaths without refusal!"