Chapter 311: The Welcoming

Changshe County, the Military Governor's office, was naturally decorated with extraordinary splendor. Even though the common people lived in poverty, nobles and high families like Liu Xin never reduced their extravagance. It must be said that when he followed Liu Zhiyuan in the conquest of the realm back then, Liu Xin could endure hardship, but since the founding of the state, his rate of decline had been truly astonishing.

It was early spring, the weather warming, the breeze gentle, and the balmy spring light easily brought good cheer. At this moment, Liu Xin's mood was especially fine.

In a jade hall, amid the curtains, Liu Xin was hosting a banquet for his staff and advisors, with song and dance for entertainment, goblets clashing in toast—a scene of decadent revelry. The advisors below all catered to his whims, flattering and fawning. They had grown accustomed to Liu Xin's ways; any slight dissatisfaction brought beatings and punishment, and those with stiff spines had long since had their bones broken...

Over this period, the soldiers he had dispatched had returned one after another, their hauls considerable—cash and silk valued in the tens of millions. His private treasury grew ever fuller, and Liu Xin was greatly pleased.

"Administrative Assistant Wu, are the welcoming gifts I had you prepare all ready?" During a lull after a dance performance, Liu Xin asked a middle-aged official.

"In reply to the Imperial Uncle, everything has been prepared and arranged, awaiting only His Majesty's passage!" That Administrative Assistant Wu answered, appearing very deferential.

"Good!" Liu Xin chuckled. "Come, drink!"

After the banquet, Liu Xin, thoroughly drunk, was supported back to the inner residence by his trusted old servant.

"Imperial Uncle... this old servant has something to say, but I know not whether I should speak!"

"Speak plainly!" Seeing him hem and haw, Liu Xin glared and said impatiently.

"The late emperor's coffin is soon to arrive in Xuzhou—is such lavish feasting and drinking perhaps inappropriate?" The old servant had clearly served Liu Xin for many years; ordinary people would not dare offer any commentary on Liu Xin's actions.

Even so, Liu Xin could not help but curse: "Among the common folk, when someone dies, they still hold funeral feasts and drink funeral wine. The late emperor has been dead for a year already—what's a little drinking on my part?"

Hearing the rebuke, the old servant's face showed even greater worry, and he said: "These days, you have sent troops to plunder, and the yabing guards of every route have harassed the people excessively. Right now, resentment is rising among the people of all the counties..."

"I say, Old Yang, why are you so talkative today?" Liu Xin was displeased, his wine breath spraying directly onto the old servant's face: "What does a little popular resentment matter? Do they dare rebel?"

"Imperial Uncle, this old servant fears this matter may reach the ears of the Son of Heaven." The old servant voiced his concern.

Hearing this, Liu Xin's drunkenness finally sobered somewhat. He knit his brows tightly, seeming to have some apprehension. But soon, the worry faded, and he laughed carelessly: "I am doing this to show loyalty and filial piety to the late emperor—what can he say? Besides, I am his imperial uncle no matter what. He has already demoted me out of the Eastern Capital—what more does he want?"

"Enough, you old fool, don't prattle in my ear. Go, pick out some more rare treasures from the storehouse to present to my nephew when the time comes—will that do..." Liu Xin waved his hand, gave the order, and returned to the inner courtyard to converse with Duke Zhou in his dreams.

Liu Chengyou had not yet received detailed word of the disturbances in Xuzhou. Accompanied by the Empress Dowager and the assembled ministers and officials, he was escorting the coffin of Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan south from Kaifeng along the official road to Xuzhou. White funeral banners stood in rows, mourning music played in unison, carriages flowed like water—the procession was grand in scale.

The Tieqi Army led the way in front, the Longqi Army guarded the rear; those escorting the tomb this time were all imperial army troops of the Palace Army. Guarding the middle section was the sole military force independent of both the Palace Command and the Imperial Guard—the Fengchen Army.

This had been reorganized from the original palace guard, the Konghe Army. Back in Jinyang, it had been an elite force personally selected and established by Liu Chengyou. In the previous reorganization, it had been expanded, its strength growing to over seven thousand men, devoted solely to palace security—truly the royal guard.

On this journey south, half the court accompanied the procession. Of course, Xuzhou was near the capital region, so the risk was not great. Even so, Liu Chengyou had made proper arrangements in the Eastern Capital. Wang Zhang, Feng Dao, Wang Jun, and other ministers controlled the court, while Li Hongxin, Bai Wenke, Han Tong, and other generals commanded the army—a balance of power was maintained throughout.

In the solemn atmosphere, the procession did not move quickly, covering only some forty li per day. It took four days before they slowly made their way to Xuzhou.

Though on the road, Liu Chengyou's journey differed little from his time in the Eastern Capital—receiving civil and military officials, handling state affairs, never neglecting his duties. He studied and practiced martial arts as usual, and even if he so wished, he could summon the accompanying Empress and Noble Consort to attend him at night...

After an afternoon nap, he woke to find the sky already dimming. He called out: "Zhang Dejun."

This palace eunuch was clearly waiting at all times; the moment the words fell, he answered: "What does His Majesty command?"

"Summon Xiang Xun!"

"Yes!"

Xiang Xun was the Chief Commander of the Fengchen Army. On this journey south with the army, he had been appointed by Liu Chengyou as commander of the field headquarters.

Feeling cooped up in the carriage, Liu Chengyou leaned his body out directly, sitting sideways on the carriage shaft. The officer driving the carriage clearly noticed the Son of Heaven sitting so close beside him, and his body tensed up, appearing especially cautious.

Soon, Xiang Xun rode up before the imperial carriage. He was about to dismount and walk alongside when Liu Chengyou waved his hand to stop him.

"We should be nearing Change County soon, right?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"In reply to Your Majesty, having crossed the Yushui River, we are already within Change County's borders. Five li to the west lies the county seat!" Xiang Xun answered fluently: "Your Majesty, the sky is growing dark—shall we lodge at Change County town?"

Liu Chengyou gazed at the dimming sunset and ordered: "Go make the arrangements. Camp tonight at Change town, continue west tomorrow, and reach Rui Mausoleum the day after!"

"Yes!" Xiang Xun spurred his horse away.

Liu Zhiyuan's Rui Mausoleum was built within Yangdi County in Xuzhou.

His spirits still good, Liu Chengyou got down from the carriage and went to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, Lady Li. Having long dwelt in the palace and now suddenly enduring this carriage journey, Liu Chengyou truly feared Lady Li's body could not withstand it.

As it turned out, Liu Chengyou's concern was unnecessary. Lady Li's spirits were excellent, and she had two daughters-in-law attending her diligently, chatting with her to relieve the tedium of the journey.

His gaze swept over the elder Lady Fu and Lady Gao. Regarding their increasingly antagonistic rivalry for favor, Liu Chengyou pretended not to notice, joining the conversation without changing his expression.

By the time they reached the outskirts of Change County town, the field camp had already been erected. This was not due to Xiang Xun's efficiency, but because Liu Xin had sent troops to conscript over two thousand able-bodied men specifically for the arrangement. Moreover, he personally led the officials and officers of Xuzhou in waiting to receive them.

Although he harbored deep dissatisfaction with Liu Chengyou, his surface display of welcoming the imperial procession was well done, full of sincerity. He probably felt that having done everything "properly," Liu Chengyou would have nothing to say.

However, glancing at the conscripted commoners, Liu Chengyou indeed said little, only ordering arrangements for the coffin, the ministers, and the escort troops to be quartered.

In the imperial tent, Liu Chengyou and Lady Li received Liu Xin together—after all, he was the imperial uncle, a direct member of the imperial clan. One could sense the disharmony between uncle and nephew; Lady Li did her best to smooth things over.

But in the tent, when Liu Xin, beaming, presented an entire chest of pearls, jade, and precious vessels to the Empress Dowager, singing her praises at length and recounting how much effort he had spent collecting these tributes...

Even Lady Li's expression turned somewhat awkward!