Chapter 222: The Restless Fourth and Fifth Months

On the first day of the fifth month (jiyou), the Emperor did not hold the great court audience, because Gaozu's coffin was still in the palace.

Liu Zhiyuan's coffin had lain in Wansui Hall for a full three months now; had his remains not been stored in the ice chamber within the palace, they would have long since rotted. Yet even though the construction of Rui Mausoleum was not extravagant or wasteful, it was still far from completion.

Previously, citing the nation's poverty and the people's hardship, Liu Chengyou had borne the name of "unfilial" as he "tearfully" halted the Rui Mausoleum project. Only recently, as the state gradually grew tranquil, had it been restarted—but with limited manpower and resources invested, progress remained slow.

Xu Taifu of the Directorate of Education memorialized that the four classics—the Rites of Zhou, the Ceremonies and Rites, the Gongyang Commentary, and the Guliang Commentary—had no printed editions, and requested that academic officials be gathered to collate and carve them for dissemination throughout the realm. Such an undertaking to restore canonical texts, rites, and thought was one Liu Chengyou could hardly refuse; he drew personnel from the Three Institutes to assist.

On the third day (xinhai), Liu Chengyou appointed Zhao Ying, Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall, as Vice Minister of Revenue and Chief Minister, entering the Hall of State Affairs—a move to fill Su Fengji's vacancy. Originally, Liu Chengyou had wanted to promote Wei Renpu, but abandoned the idea due to his insufficient seniority; for now he would let him continue toiling in the Bureau of Military Affairs, where his abilities would eventually see him rise.

With this, counting Dou Zhengu, Li Tao, and Feng Dao, the Great Han court now had four former officials of the previous dynasty. Zhao Ying had also been among the chancellors during the Later Jin, had authored the History of Tang, and possessed a lenient temperament with weak methods—easy to control.

Just as with the earlier absorption of the imperial army, this was a way of digesting the Later Jin's legacy, and as the Liu family's time standing in the Central Plains grew longer, there was no fear of the former dynasty's old ministers' influence. Of course, in the court, military, political, and financial power still rested in the hands of Hedong founding followers like Yang Bin.

On the fifth day (kuichou), Liu Chengyou held court at Guangzheng Hall, where he bestowed favors and rewards upon the founding ministers—Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Su Yugui, Guo Wei, Shang Hongqian, Li Hongxin, Bai Wenke, and others—conferring upon them all ducal and marquis titles, prefixed with "founding."

This matter had been on Liu Chengyou's mind ever since he left Luoyang and enfeoffed Shi Hongzhao as Duke of Zheng. This was Liu Chengyou's further effort to win over his civil and military heavyweights, drawing the hearts of the court together once more and making his imperial throne that much more secure.

"Your Majesty, Zhengzhou reports that the floodwaters at Yuanwu have receded!" In the hall, Fan Zhi walked before the throne and reported in a low voice.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou set down the memorial forwarded from the Hall of State Affairs and asked with a grave face: "What are the losses?"

Fan Zhi's voice was somewhat suppressed as he answered: "Over three hundred people dead; more than half of Yuanwu's farmland destroyed; four thousand people affected by the disaster!"

At the end of last month, the Yellow River had burst its banks in Yuanwu County, Zhengzhou, flooding the entire territory. Facing this sudden flood, Defense Commissioner Jing Fan, at the critical moment, personally led the soldiers and people of Zhengzhou to risk death in plugging the breach and fighting the flood, barely containing the disaster and preventing its spread. One must understand—the court had invested so much effort in the Zhengzhou military colonies; had they been destroyed by flood, it would have been a despairing loss...

Fortunately, Jing Fan had reacted in time and handled things properly, thanks to his dredging of the waterways within his jurisdiction since taking office. Moreover, this breach had not been particularly large; otherwise, how could Jing Fan have eliminated it in such haste? Even so, Yuanwu County's losses were enormous.

"Jing Fan is a capable official with merit—he should receive an edict of commendation!" Liu Chengyou said solemnly after carefully reading through the report.

"Had Governor Jing of Zhengzhou not handled things promptly and properly, I fear the Zhengzhou military colonies would have been destroyed in an instant!" Fan Zhi echoed with a look of lingering fear.

After a moment's thought, Liu Chengyou instructed: "Have Jing Fan properly console Yuanwu and appropriately settle the affected people. Order the State Finance Commission to send a portion of funds and grain from the Eastern Capital. Tell Jing Fan to grit his teeth and, together with the court, endure this period!"

Liu Chengyou's tone at this moment carried a strong note of bitterness.

"Additionally, order the Secretariat-Chancellery to issue directives to the prefectures and counties along the river, inspecting flood defenses and making proper preparations against flood disasters!" Liu Chengyou added after a pause.

"Yes!"

Letting out a helpless sigh, Liu Chengyou knew in his heart that it would likely have little effect. This time it was not that the local officials ignored the court's directives, but rather that flood defense work consumed money, grain, and manpower—and right now there was nothing at all. Could one govern the river with a single directive? Liu Chengyou issued this order merely hoping that local officials would heighten their vigilance...

"Adding frost to snow, an eventful autumn indeed!" With a troubled heart, Liu Chengyou let out a heavy sigh: "When will this realm know peace?"

During this period, the Great Han's overall situation had been fairly stable—no external wars invading, and internal treachery hidden within. But while man-made disasters did not arise, natural calamities came without end. In the Central Plains, the Yuanwu breach raged with floods. In Hebei, drought had arisen; according to reports from Weibo and Chengde, there had been no rain for nearly a month, and grain harvests were feared to fail.

"When it rains, it pours" was roughly the situation. Heaven's timing was uncooperative—truly helpless. Because of the Hebei drought, court ministers had urged Liu Chengyou to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for rain, but Liu Chengyou had declined on the grounds of state affairs being busy. It was not that he did not believe in such things, but rather that if he prayed to Heaven and still no rain came, would that not further confirm that he, this emperor, was "without virtue" and not blessed by Heaven?

As for the Hebei drought, Xuzhou had reported that famine had arisen, with internal and external supplies exhausted and 215 people dead of starvation. This was even the result of Military Governor Wu Xingde's active relief policies.

Hearing the sovereign's sigh, Fan Zhi's expression could not help but turn grave. He looked at this young Son of Heaven—on those not-so-broad shoulders seemed to rest a burden of a thousand jun.

Seeing the worry on his face, Fan Zhi could not help but speak words of comfort, his tone impassioned: "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have been diligent in governance and loving toward the people, striving with vigor—the court and the common folk alike hold hope, and you may be called supremely wise and enlightened. To have such an enlightened ruler is the fortune of the realm; even if Heaven above looks down, how could it not be moved? It is only through hardship that sagely brilliance is revealed. As long as Your Majesty remains unwavering in resolve, the Great Han's rivers and mountains shall surely be unbreakable!"

Liu Chengyou could not help but laugh, looking at Fan Zhi and speaking in a teasing tone: "For such flattering words to come from your mouth, Academician Fan, is a rare thing indeed—I find it quite novel!"

Fan Zhi's expression showed no change as he replied solemnly: "Everything Your Majesty's servant said came from the depths of his heart!"

Liu Chengyou did not doubt his candor. He sighed leisurely: "I too will speak a heartfelt word to you. In these difficult times for the state, on the road of endeavor, true confidants are hard to come by. Fan Zhi, I hope you can become my confidant!"

Fan Zhi had been promoted by Liu Chengyou for no more than three months; even with such favor, Liu Chengyou did not believe he was sufficiently loyal. In this era, speaking of loyalty between sovereign and minister held little meaning. And one of the things Liu Chengyou planned to do next was to restore "loyalty and righteousness" to the hearts of the people.

At Liu Chengyou's sigh, Fan Zhi's solemn face could not conceal his surprise. But meeting Liu Chengyou's gaze, he slowly clasped his hands: "I am honored by Your Majesty's trust!"

After his words of comfort, Liu Chengyou's somewhat oppressed mood improved somewhat. Turning his attention to another memorial Fan Zhi had presented, he asked: "What is this memorial about? Where has another problem arisen?"

"Ruzhou reports that the bandit rebellion has been pacified. Governor Liu of Ruzhou and the imperial army attacked the Ruzhou bandits, killing over two hundred and recovering over five thousand people!" Fan Zhi answered.

"At last, some good news..." Liu Chengyou muttered as he flipped through the report.

Fan Zhi narrated from the side: "Imperial army commanders Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde used both suppression and amnesty, with sound strategy, forcing the bandits out of the mountains. Governor Liu of Ruzhou then followed up, properly settling them, turning bandits back into common folk!"

"Truly worthy of the rising stars of the imperial army!" Liu Chengyou commented in a relaxed tone.

Then he added with another sigh: "Since the founding of the Great Han, all the prefectures near the capital have said Ruzhou was difficult to govern. Governor Liu is truly worthy of his reputation as a pillar of talent—in Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou was settled; in Ruzhou, Ruzhou is governed. A truly fine minister indeed!"

"Issue an edict—reward him according to his merits!"