Chapter 274: Poor Again

"I'm back!"

As always, facing Liu Chengyou's return from afar, Empress Dowager Li maintained her gentle, virtuous motherly demeanor, her phoenix eyes kind and compassionate as she helped Liu Chengyou rise. She looked him over once, then led him to a seat, repeating: "It's good that you're back!"

Observing Liu Chengyou's gaunt appearance, she did not reach out to touch him, but her concern was plain to see.

"I've made Mother worry." Liu Chengyou revealed a smile and said with a cupped-fist salute: "Your son will be sure to find more time to keep you company."

"Do I not know you? I fear leisure is a rare thing for you—but having the thought is enough!" Lady Li said with great sagacity. "Still, with you back in the capital, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief on my end. I am but an old woman of the inner palace; with the realm in turmoil, holding Kaifeng and the court for you has been utterly exhausting—I can hardly bear the burden!"

Empress Dowager Li wore a relieved expression. Seeing this, Liu Chengyou quickly said: "Mother has worked hard!"

Noting Lady Li's expression, Liu Chengyou's thoughts turned at once, and he asked in a grave tone: "Surely no one would dare show disrespect to Mother?"

"The ministers of the court naturally would not dare be rude to me. But I am after all a woman, with shallow knowledge and limited vision; coming and going between the front court and the inner palace, showing my face in public—it is ultimately inconvenient. This Eastern Capital, I return it to you!" Seeing the flash of cold severity that passed over Liu Chengyou's face, Lady Li immediately explained in gentle tones.

His mother's virtue actually stirred a hint of guilt in Liu Chengyou's heart, born of his own suspicions. In an instant, many thoughts flashed through his mind, but what reached his lips was only a single heartfelt phrase: "Mother, you've worked hard!"

In truth, since Liu Chengyou had ascended the throne, the exchanges between mother and son had unconsciously become formal, hollow, and full of high-sounding words, lacking in familial warmth. At this moment, hearing the tenderness in Liu Chengyou's tone, Lady Li could not help but reveal a faint, gratified smile.

"The weather has turned cold—remember to add an extra layer of clothing."

"Yes!"

"Where is Nong'er?"

"Bring the prince up for His Majesty to see." Lady Li instructed the serving maids, then said to Liu Chengyou: "At his hundred-day mark, you were away, so I summoned the relatives and held a simple blessing feast. Nong'er is very sturdy..."

Liu Chengyou nodded, and as the child was brought out, he reached out to take him. He was stopped by Lady Li—he must wash his hands and change his clothes first.

The infant, just over three months old, was very light; Liu Chengyou certainly could not tell how sturdy he was. But observing the child's countenance—bright and spirited—he was indeed in a healthy state.

Bouncing the child a few times in his arms, Liu Chengyou said offhandedly without thinking: "He can't talk yet, can he?"

"Not that fast!" Lady Li laughed, casting him a playful glare.

"Your Majesty, the ministers request an audience!" Amid the idle conversation, a palace eunuch arrived with an urgent report.

Liu Chengyou's expression could not help but show a trace of hesitation. Seeing this, Lady Li stepped forward to take Liu Nong'er—the child who had been squirming in Liu Chengyou's arms immediately settled down.

Lady Li said: "Go! When your ministers seek an audience, there must be important matters. You have just returned from campaign—no doubt there are many pressing affairs you need to catch up on."

"Your son takes his leave!" Liu Chengyou clasped his fists and retreated two steps.

Before leaving, he turned to the elder Lady Fu and Lady Gao, who were waiting in the hall, and said: "Keep the Empress Dowager good company on my behalf!"

"Yes!" The two women replied with proper courtesy.

In truth, there was no need for Liu Chengyou to instruct them—the Empress and the Noble Consort would have done so anyway. The elder Lady Fu habitually fulfilled filial duties on Liu Chengyou's behalf, and Gao Huaijin followed her example. As for the two women's attitudes, Lady Li remained essentially impartial, and she would often offer reminders and warnings, helping Liu Chengyou keep the inner palace stable and free from disturbance.

Hurrying back to Chuigong Hall, he forced himself to rally, quickly composed his thoughts, and took his seat to receive the ministers' homage. Then Liu Chengyou looked around the room and said to the dozen or so high ministers: "During the time of my personal campaign, I have relied on you all to uphold the governance of the state, handle the affairs of state, and reassure the people, so that I had no worries from behind. Here, I thank you all!"

It was said that after pacifying Li Shouzhen, the Emperor's arrogance had grown day by day, and his actions had become quite self-willed. Thus, Liu Chengyou's current posture took the assembled ministers by surprise.

When the Son of Heaven himself condescended to show such courtesy and give them such face, how could the courtiers remain aloof? They all responded with humility and deference.

After exchanging some pleasantries and fostering an atmosphere of harmony between ruler and ministers, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "You have all sought an audience—if there is anything, speak plainly."

The first to step forward was Wang Zhang. This gentleman's face was steeped in toil and exhaustion; among the chancellors of the Eastern Capital, none had worked harder than Wang Zhang during the suppression of the rebellion. The gathering and dispatch of grain and equipment was already a laborious task, the State Finance Commission's management of the realm's revenues and taxes was fraught with miscellaneous affairs, and then there were the autumn harvest and tax collection matters...

Burdened with a hundred affairs, handling myriad matters daily—this was no exaggeration. Liu Chengyou noticed that the white hairs on Wang Zhang's head had clearly increased by several strands. Sometimes, by observing an official's conduct, his age, and the color of his hair, one could already form a judgment.

As for Wang Zhang himself—his ability, style, and methods of governance might be open to debate, but he was very earnest in his work, and he dared to bear the burden of criticism, always struggling to maintain the state's fiscal balance.

After coughing heavily several times, Wang Zhang rose and first offered an apology: "Your servant has lost his composure—I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou raised his sleeve and waved lightly, saying magnanimously: "No matter. Minister Wang, sit and speak!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

For ministers who truly did their work, Liu Chengyou did not stint on the greatest tolerance.

"Your Majesty, for this western campaign to suppress the rebellion, the Eastern Capital has expended a total of over 95,400 dan of grain, flour, and meat, and over 168 million cash. The prefectures of the capital region have contributed over 50,000 dan of grain and over 40 million cash. As for weapons, supplies, what was used at the front, what the soldiers consumed, what the laborers cost, subsequent rewards, and what was seized in Hezhong—the details are all recorded in this memorial. I beg Your Majesty to peruse it!" Wang Zhang produced a memorial and presented it to Liu Chengyou.

Clearly, Wang Zhang, leading the State Finance Commission, had gotten ahead of him in this matter of summing up the accounts.

Picking up the memorial placed on the desk, Liu Chengyou gave it a brief glance, his mind filled with the figures Wang Zhang had just mentioned, and he muttered: "That much!"

"The costs of military supplies have drained the state greatly..."

"At this rate, the court is poor again!" Liu Chengyou said with a bit of a headache.

Of course, the Great Han court had never been rich. He knew war cost money, so he had some psychological preparation, but when he heard the specific figures, he still could not help but wince. The mobilization of over a hundred thousand men, a campaign of nearly a thousand li—the grain losses in between were naturally enormous. Fortunately, Hezhong Prefecture had allowed them to recoup some losses.

As for the expenditure of money, the bulk went to weapons and the construction of those heavy siege engines—and this was even with the court squeezing labor and material costs to the utmost.

It was fortunate the rebellion had been suppressed quickly; had it dragged on for a few more months, the costs would have been even more incalculable. Not to mention shifts in the situation and threats from rival states—even within the Great Han itself, chaos would likely have erupted. At that point, with military supplies insufficient, the only option would have been to squeeze the peasants.

"I will find time later to read it carefully!" Setting down the memorial, Liu Chengyou took a deep breath and said, looking up at Wang Zhang: "How much grain and money remains in the Eastern Capital—is it sufficient?"