Chapter 3: Question and Answer at the Field's Edge

The second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head.

Outside Jinyang, by the banks of the Fen River, a rather elaborate piece of theater was already underway. A large stretch of reasonably flat farmland had been selected, and at Liu Zhiyuan's command, the high officials under the Hedong Military Governor's authority all had to set aside their dignity, hoist hoes, and personally till the fields.

Liu Zhiyuan took the lead, personally going into the fields to demonstrate his "emphasis on agriculture and sericulture, devotion to farming" intent. In his years governing Hedong, though he had previously issued measures encouraging farming, he had never before staged such a lively ceremony, personally doing the work, to deliver this "first hoe of the new year." The significance behind this move was thought-provoking.

As for the civil and military officials in attendance, whether they were truly willing was another matter. But with the Prince of Beiping doing this, they had to keep smiling on their faces and put on a diligent appearance.

That morning's spring rain had some people sighing that it was a good omen, but once they got into the fields, their expressions turned rather reluctant. The rain-soaked earth was especially clingy to the feet, and every movement felt like some strange force was pulling one down into the ground. This kind of farm work thoroughly wore out the honored officials of Hedong. But Liu Zhiyuan had given the order: one mu per person.

Liu Chengyou had come along as well, and naturally participated in this theater. He rolled up his sleeves, rolled up his trouser legs, took off his shoes and socks, and went into the field barefoot. Picking up the hoe, Liu Chengyou experienced for the first time the taste of "face to the yellow earth, back to the sky." It was not easy—time-consuming, laborious, and taxing on one's patience. Yet Liu Chengyou appeared neither impatient nor flustered, turning the soil at a steady, unhurried pace, as if tempering his mindset.

Not far from Liu Chengyou stood a rough, burly man with a stern expression and fierce light in his eyes. He swung his hoe and slammed it hard into the field, venting the pent-up frustration in his heart fiercely upon the earth beneath his feet. This was Liu Zhiyuan's beloved general, Chief Commander of the Northern Capital's Wujie Army, concurrently Prefect of Leizhou, Shi Hongzhao. A man of peasant origins, he had always detested agricultural work, and this order to labor in the fields—even just for show—he could not do well.

"The realm is in turmoil, the state is sinking—who knows when war will break out!" With a mighty swing of his hoe, he tossed up a clod of earth, then straightened up with a hand on his waist. Shi Hongzhao glanced toward Liu Zhiyuan's direction and muttered under his breath: "I wonder what the Prince is thinking—not busy preparing the army for war, but with leisure to fiddle with hoes and plows in the fields..."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's gaze swept sidelong toward Shi Hongzhao. This man appeared to be worrying about the current situation, but Liu Chengyou knew well that this fellow was simply unwilling to do this "lowly work" and was voicing complaints. Indifferently withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou continued burying his head in the labor...

"Your Highness, please rest a while." After all, he was getting on in years. When Liu Zhiyuan made a motion to support his back, a yabing officer attending at his side immediately hurried over and solicitously helped support him.

Liu Zhiyuan did not push himself. He set down his hoe, wiped a bit of mud from his hands, walked to a mat spread at the edge of the field, sat down, and took the water bag for a hearty drink. His gaze wandered, observing the situation of the civil and military officials around him.

His attention quickly settled on his two sons. Liu Chengxun had always been one who never lifted a finger—clumsy in his movements, weak in his tilling, already panting heavily and leaning against the ridge of the field stealing a bit of rest. In contrast, Liu Chengyou, with his calm and composed movements, hoe stroke after hoe stroke, matched with an expression far too steady for his age, made Liu Zhiyuan unable to suppress his astonishment.

"Have the eldest and second young lords come over and rest!" Raising a finger, Liu Zhiyuan gave the order to those around him.

Upon learning that Liu Zhiyuan had summoned him, Liu Chengyou still unhurriedly turned over the patch of soil beneath his feet before slowly walking toward Liu Zhiyuan.

Approaching, Liu Chengyou performed a proper, formal bow: "Father."

"Sit!" Liu Zhiyuan had been discussing something with Liu Chengxun. He looked up at Liu Chengyou and gestured for him to sit.

"Yes!" Acknowledging, Liu Chengyou sat down, took a drink of water, and then silently listened to the two men converse.

Liu Zhiyuan seemed to be in high spirits. Looking at the two brothers, he asked softly: "Eldest, second—recently someone has suggested that I go to Bianjing to pay homage to the Khitan ruler, to seek our preservation. What do you two think?"

The moment the words fell, Liu Chengxun immediately grew anxious and said excitedly: "Absolutely not. The Khitan are a race of tigers and wolves, and their ruler is even more a greedy and tyrannical sovereign. If Father goes, would that not be a lamb walking into the tiger's mouth? Father is a regional lord, bearing the safety of hundreds of thousands of Hedong soldiers and civilians. How could you lightly leave and enter a place of danger?"

Hearing this, Liu Zhiyuan did not respond, only seeming lost in thought, gazing at him calmly.

"The deaths of Zhao Zaili, Liu Jixun, and other Jin ministers—the lessons of those who came before are still before our eyes. Father must remain vigilant in his heart..." Seeing that Liu Zhiyuan had no reaction to his words, Liu Chengxun grew even more anxious and cited two examples to Liu Zhiyuan.

Zhao Zaili and Liu Jixun were both vassal ministers of the Later Jin—one was Military Governor of Jinchang Army (Yongzhou), the other Military Governor of Kuangguo Army (Tongzhou). When Yelu Deguang entered Bianjing, they made the same choice as many Later Jin military governors: personally going to Daliang to pay homage, to express their loyalty. Unfortunately, they went with such eagerness, yet neither came to a good end.

Back when the Young Emperor of Jin first broke relations with the Khitan, leading to fierce warfare between north and south, Liu Jixun held the office of Commissioner of the Northern Bureau of the Palace Attendants and participated in the deliberations. When Liu Jixun entered Bianjing, Yelu Deguang used this matter to charge him with crimes, wanting to shackle him and send him to Huanglong Prefecture, to "treat" his ailment of wind paralysis.

Compared to Liu Jixun, Zhao Zaili's case was even more unjust. Yelu Deguang had made some rather unfriendly remarks about this man, saying that Zhao Zaili had set off the "turmoil of Zhuangzong's reign." This was indeed a fact—back then, Zhao Zaili was in Yedu, and, swept along by the masses, he held the city and rebelled. Afterwards, together with the imperial troops sent to suppress him, he jointly supported Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang, Li Siyuan, as emperor. But that was all twenty years ago. For Yelu Deguang, the Khitan ruler, to charge him with old disorders of the Central Plains was a stretch so far that even settling old scores didn't apply—clearly he only wanted to establish his authority.

Zhao Zaili deeply felt the peril of his eastward journey. When passing through Luoyang, he was humiliated by a barbarian general. Afterwards, news arrived that Liu Jixun, who had arrived first, had been seized, and he grew even more anxious and uneasy. Whether out of fear or an inability to see a way out, he found an opportunity and took his own life among the horse stalls.

Upon hearing of Zhao's death, Yelu Deguang probably felt he had gone too far and released Liu Jixun. But Liu Jixun's heart was already filled with pent-up resentment, and he knew he had incurred the Khitan ruler's displeasure, with a dark road ahead. Compounded by illness, he soon died of sickness at home.

Zhao Zaili and Liu Jixun—neither was particularly renowned for reputation or virtue. Zhao Zaili especially, at every military governorship he held, imposed heavy levies and harsh exactions, and the gentry and commoners alike all suffered under him, viewing him as a "thorn in the eye." But given their status as regional military governors of the Central Plains, going to pay homage at Daliang and ending in such a miserable outcome sounded an alarm for all the Later Jin military provinces still watching from the sidelines.

Liu Chengxun admonished with sincere words, his concern evident in every expression. A faint smile appeared on Liu Zhiyuan's stern face as he raised a hand to soothe him: "Your concerns, eldest, I understand."

Having said this, he glanced at Liu Chengyou. Seeing that his second son's face still showed not the slightest reaction, the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He gave a light cough and said: "Second, what is your view?"

"The one who made that suggestion should be killed!" Terse and to the point, Liu Chengyou said coldly, making his stance clear.

Sensing the killing intent contained within Liu Chengyou's flat tone, Liu Zhiyuan was not particularly surprised. He waved his hand: "I open wide the road of remonstrance—how could I kill a man for his words and chill the hearts of my Hedong subordinates?"

One could tell that Liu Zhiyuan's words were insincere, merely making a show of it. Liu Chengyou's tone remained utterly flat as he stated calmly: "Father holds the passes, commands heavy troops, with merit greater than the state and a reputation of great weight. Even Shi Chonggui, that mediocre sovereign, knows to fear you—let alone the Khitan ruler. If Father goes to Bianjing, you will not return. Even if you manage to cling to life, you would be fish on the chopping block. Now the Central Plains has no master, and the Chinese realm has sunk into ruin. Father has Hedong as his foundation—this is precisely the time to press forward with bold ambition..."

As he spoke, Liu Chengyou's words came to an abrupt halt. He realized he had said a bit too much. He looked up at Liu Zhiyuan and saw his gaze burning upon him, and instinctively lowered his head. Liu Chengxun stared blankly at Liu Chengyou—his second brother, indeed, only when discussing serious matters did he become so eloquent.

"A snot-nosed brat, daring to utter such insolent words, showing contempt for the Son of Heaven?" Noting Liu Chengyou's reaction, Liu Zhiyuan's eyes flickered, and he rebuked with feigned anger.

Liu Chengyou remained silent. After a pause, he answered: "I would not dare."

Seeing this, Liu Zhiyuan immediately laughed, naturally shifting the topic, his eyes full of scrutiny: "Lately I have received no small number of reports saying you have been restless again in the Longqi Army. Acting wantonly, killing soldiers indiscriminately, appointing officers without authorization..."

Meeting Liu Zhiyuan's interrogating gaze, Liu Chengyou's face remained stiff. His eyes blinked as usual as he answered calmly: "Those were arrogant soldiers in the army who would not obey orders and showed contempt for their superiors. I was merely enforcing military law. As for appointing officers, in the army the strong are honored. I put the capable in place and the incompetent out—that is all!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou's explanation, Liu Zhiyuan stared at him for a long while, then let out a few hearty laughs. Within the laughter was a faint trace of satisfaction, drifting through the surroundings, drawing the sidelong glances of many civil and military officials in the fields whose minds were elsewhere.