Chapter 281: A Rap on the Knuckles

"The Great Xiangguo Temple—how long has it stood?" A cold, stern expression appeared on Liu Chengyou's face.

Li Shaoyou was briefly taken aback, but reacted quickly and answered: "Xiangguo Temple was first built in the Northern Qi dynasty, nearly four hundred years ago. It was destroyed by fire at the end of the Tang, then rebuilt..."

Within and without the Eastern Capital, there were several Buddhist temples, but in terms of renown, Xiangguo Temple was the greatest. Though neither its scale nor its prosperity was yet enough to inspire awe, its status was there—the Empress Dowager was a devout Buddhist, and whenever she left the palace to offer incense, she always chose Xiangguo Temple.

Having been previously tasked with investigating the temples, Li Shaoyou was already well acquainted with all of this.

"That's quite a long history!" Liu Chengyou sighed inexplicably, then asked: "Do the monks enter the palace merely to preach sutras and chant Buddha's name?"

"Forgive your servant's dullness—within Renming Hall, your servant truly could not learn the particulars." Li Shaoyou answered cautiously.

Liu Chengyou shot him a sidelong glance. If even the situation around the Empress Dowager were probed too thoroughly, that taboo would be grievously overstepped.

"We were just saying—how did the Empress Dowager suddenly come to speak with Us of the Buddhist dharma..." Liu Chengyou muttered coldly.

"The situation of all the temples in the capital region has been thoroughly investigated, has it not?" Drawing a slight breath, Liu Chengyou asked.

"To answer His Majesty, throughout the prefectures and counties of the capital region, the number of temples great and small, the monks, the lands, the tenant farmers—the Wude Office has recorded all in detail. By your servant's investigation, in the capital region alone there are two hundred and thirty-seven Buddhist temples, with over forty thousand monks..."

Liu Chengyou said sternly: "Present it to Us shortly!"

"Yes!"

Liu Chengyou pondered matters, and the hall fell silent for a moment. Li Shaoyou clasped his hands and cautiously reported, his words carrying a veiled reminder: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is a devout believer in the Buddha. Should Your Majesty wish to do something out of the ordinary, Renming Hall may well prove a source of trouble!"

Li Shaoyou was, of course, well aware of what Liu Chengyou intended to do. Hearing this, Liu Chengyou glanced at him: "We know!"

This maternal cousin was, in certain respects, truly too clever by half. Yet as he said, if Liu Chengyou wished to suppress Buddhism and Lady Li opposed it, that would be an absolute headache for him. Though even Lady Li's opposition could not stop Liu Chengyou, he would still do his utmost to avoid a possible mother-son conflict.

Raising a hand to stroke his short stubble, Liu Chengyou considered for a while, then suddenly asked: "That old Daoist Chen Tuan—he's still living in seclusion on Mount Hua, isn't he?"

Startled by the sudden question, Li Shaoyou mulled over Liu Chengyou's intentions even as he answered: "Your servant will immediately send men to inquire!"

Seeing that he could not confirm it, Liu Chengyou waved a hand: "No need. We shall issue a personal edict to Huazhou, inviting Fuyaozi to the capital, to expound the Daoist scriptures for the Empress Dowager and Ourselves!"

"Yes!"

As realization dawned on Li Shaoyou, he heard Liu Chengyou mutter indifferently: "Having heard so much of Buddhist sounds, it's time to experience the flavor of the Dao."

"His Majesty is wise!" Li Shaoyou said, flattering him.

Slowly steadying his mind and setting the matter aside for now, Liu Chengyou's expression returned to its former solemnity as he asked Li Shaoyou: "We intend to thoroughly reorganize the imperial army. You've heard of this, haven't you?"

"Your servant has heard something of it!" Li Shaoyou nodded directly, clasping his hands, his eyes flickering slightly: "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"

"Cousin, you remain as quick-witted as ever!" Liu Chengyou praised him lightly, then his tone turned sharp: "This matter concerns the entire army and is intimately tied to every officer and soldier. We fear unrest in the troops. From now on, the Wude Office is to keep a tight watch on the situation within the imperial army—at any unusual movement or sign, report to Us at once!"

"Yes!" Liu Chengyou's instruction was solemn, and Li Shaoyou's response was equally grave. With his intelligence and cunning, he naturally understood the gravity of the matter—and more importantly, the benefits to be gained from it.

Though the policies and regulations for army reform had not yet been issued, judging by Liu Chengyou's intentions, this reorganization of the imperial army would inevitably involve changes in the posts of senior generals. His father, Li Hongxin, had endured for so long, always eyeing the position of commander of the imperial army. Previously, there had been only one "Guard Commander"; now there would clearly be an additional "Palace Commander"—surely the Emperor would want trusted men in such posts.

"Withdraw! Be Our eyes and ears, and handle your duties well!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand lightly, instructing Li Shaoyou.

"Your servant takes his leave!" Li Shaoyou bowed with solemn gravity.

Just before he withdrew, Liu Chengyou seemed to mention casually: "Oh, by the way—We hear you've taken a new concubine. Congratulations!"

This cousin of the Son of Heaven had one obvious flaw: lust. His household was positively crowded with concubines and beauties.

Liu Chengyou's seemingly random remark fell upon Li Shaoyou's ears and made his expression change drastically. He bowed with visibly increased deference: "This servant thanks Your Majesty."

With that, he bent low at the waist and slowly withdrew from the hall. In the brief span of that moment, by the time he exited the hall, Li Shaoyou's expression had already turned deeply somber. This Emperor had only just returned, yet he already knew even such private matters as the taking of a concubine in his household.

"It seems our His Majesty has more than one pair of eyes and ears!" On the road back to the Wude Office, Li Shaoyou walked with a grim face, silently lamenting in his heart—though he could only keep it bottled up inside.

Recalling the tone Liu Chengyou had just used, there seemed to be a hint of warning hidden within it. At this thought, Li Shaoyou could not help but examine himself—had he done something to displease the Son of Heaven?

On Liu Chengyou's side, he was indeed somewhat displeased with Li Shaoyou's conduct. For he had discovered that this cousin Li Shaoyou's selfish motives were growing heavier by the day. All men have selfishness—that is only human nature—but there must be a limit, a bottom line, especially for one who held a fang-and-claw department like the Wude Office.

Li Shaoyou had reported so many matters before him just now, some weighty, some trivial, some detailed, some brief. But of all he spoke, the most was about Shang Hongqian—the vague insinuations were not lost on Liu Chengyou.

Shang Hongqian did indeed have his improprieties, but under Li Shaoyou's lopsided narration, he seemed already to harbor treacherous intentions stirring to life. But Liu Chengyou, after all, had more than one pair of eyes and ears, and his mind was clear enough that he did not take one-sided reports at face value. And as for what schemes Li Shaoyou was spinning, Liu Chengyou had a rough idea.

Of course, displeasure was displeasure—he still trusted this cousin to a considerable degree. But to preserve the bond between sovereign and minister, between brothers, a certain rap on the knuckles was still necessary. After all, he held charge of such a sensitive office as the Wude Office.

He believed that with Li Shaoyou's shrewdness, he should grasp the meaning. If he grew arrogant, failed to understand, and still did not know to rein himself in, then when the time came that action could no longer be avoided, Liu Chengyou would not show mercy.

As for the other people and matters Li Shaoyou had reported—Nie Wenjin, Guo Yunming, even his young maternal uncle Li Ye—Liu Chengyou secretly resolved in his heart to deal with them one by one, to clean them out.

Speaking of it, since his accession, apart from the case of Su Fengji, Liu Chengyou had made no major moves in official governance. Though he had repeatedly issued warnings and the corrupt and law-breaking ministers of the Great Han had reined themselves in considerably, the fundamental problem of unclean governance had not seen any fundamental improvement. In the final analysis, it was because he had been too "lenient" with his courtiers before, and his handling had been too soft. Never mind that the Great Han's laws currently appeared strict and harsh—those were aimed at ordinary scholars and commoners.

Now, with his imperial throne gradually secured and his authority growing daily, it was time to reshape the Great Han court according to his own will. The "Qianyou New Policies" would step onto the proper track and move onto the fast lane.

"Your Majesty, the two gentlemen Zhao and Tao request an audience outside the hall!" While Liu Chengyou was still deep in thought, a messenger announced.

"Summon them in!" Liu Chengyou perked up at once and ordered.

Though he had missed this special examination due to the rebellion in Hezhong, it was precisely for that reason that he was all the more attentive to the matter.