Chapter 316: Worshipping Lord Guan

On the guisi day (the twenty-ninth), Liu Chengyou went in person to Xuzhou to pay homage at the old residence of Lord Guan, and the civil and military officials who had come south from the Eastern Capital, along with the prefectural and county officials of Xuzhou, all accompanied the imperial entourage. Xuzhou had deep cultural foundations, with many famous sites of profound heritage, temples, and ancient structures, yet Liu Chengyou paid homage only to Guan Yu—not for any other reason, but solely for Lord Guan's "loyalty and righteousness."

This old residence of Lord Guan, true to its name, highlighted the word "old"—long neglected, with crumbling towers and rotten drums, walls and tiles mottled and faded. Even the spirit tablets and sacrificial vessels had been hastily gathered and prepared on the spot. In this era, Lord Guan did not yet enjoy such great fame.

Still, the fengshui of the place was truly fine—it had survived seven or eight years and remained for people to pay their respects. After the sacrifice, just outside the residence, amid the crude surroundings, bathed in the bright spring light, Liu Chengyou invited the assembled ministers to sit on the ground and discuss the Way, speaking at length on "loyalty and righteousness."

"Xuzhou is a fine place!"

The sun hung high, everything bathed in clarity. Liu Chengyou sat astride a slightly wiped stone step, heedless of dust and dirt. He had spoken much on the path of loyalty and righteousness, yet seemed not to feel thirsty, wearing an expression of growing enthusiasm for discussion as he sighed: "Situated at the heart of the Central Plains, a place of outstanding people and spiritual splendor. In the final years of the Later Han, when the realm collapsed into chaos, Wei's foundation flourished in Xu. Emperor Wu of Wei, using Xuchang as his base, dominated the Central Plains, cast a tiger's gaze upon the realm, and through civil governance and martial achievement, accomplished his hegemony..."

In truth, Liu Chengyou's use of this allusion was highly inappropriate, extremely unsuitable.

The moment his words fell, the accompanying chief minister and Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall, Su Yugui, could not help but rise. He gave a light cough, a trace of embarrassment on his aged face, and shot Liu Chengyou a look: "Your Majesty! Had it not been for the great righteousness of the Han Son of Heaven, how could the Cao clan have gathered worthy men as the means to accomplish their deeds?"

Noting the expression of that old fox Su Yugui, Liu Chengyou's countenance remained natural. He lightly flicked his sleeve and said with great candor: "I understand your meaning, Minister Su! You wish to say that Cao Cao and his son usurped the realm, stole the Han dynasty, and that Gaozu continued the Han mandate to establish our dynasty. To me, Cao Wei should be rebels and traitors—how could I speak words of praise toward my enemies?"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Hearing this, Su Yugui was briefly stunned, but those four words were the best response.

Liu Chengyou rose, patted the dust from his backside, swept his gaze over the circle of civil and military ministers, and declared in a clear voice: "But I tell you all, there is no need to avoid this matter. When the realm was in chaos and the Later Han lost its deer, all the heroes gave chase. That Cao Wei could replace them—that was their fortune and ability!"

"As for our dynasty, though we continue the Han mandate and honor two ancestors with posthumous titles, after seven or eight hundred years, how much have we truly obtained? We hold but an empty name! In the lands of Lingnan, there are still the false Liu, presumptuously claiming the Han title—do they share clan kinship with me?"

"My intent is to discard the empty and grasp the real! How can the Great Han's rivers and mountains rest solely on the single word 'Han'? Worthy ministers as one's arms and legs, loyal and brave generals and soldiers, and the millions of common people whose hearts turn toward us—these are the true foundation of the Great Han's realm!"

As Liu Chengyou's words fell, the civil and military officials below exchanged glances. The Son of Heaven's words were frank but bold—some admired, some were stunned, some sneered, and some simply did not understand. But Guo Wei reacted quickly, rising first with a face full of admiration and reverence, bowing respectfully: "Your Majesty's words are visionary and far-sighted. Hearing them, I feel as though enlightened—I am incomparably in awe!"

There were many clever people; regardless of what they truly thought, they all rose to echo the sentiment.

Su Yugui went even further in his flattery: "Your Majesty's breadth of mind and bearing is vast and expansive, able to contain a hundred rivers—truly, we ministers cannot help but admire it endlessly!"

"Since the end of the Tang, the realm has been torn asunder. Zhu Liang rose in the Central Plains to replace it; Emperor Zhuangzong destroyed Liang to seize the Central Plains and end it; the Jin Ancestor emerged from Hedong to take the Central Plains and replace the Tang. Now, what occupies the Central Plains is our Great Han! But these decades of turmoil—the succession of emperors has been like a revolving lantern."

Liu Chengyou paced a few circles, stretching his legs, and continued to voice his thoughts: "I do not measure my virtue or weigh my strength, but I wish to halt the spears and sheathe the swords, to suppress violence and quell disorder, to win the hearts of the realm. Yet since ancient times, these hearts of the people—they are often the hardest thing to gather."

As he said this, Liu Chengyou deliberately or inadvertently glanced twice at Liu Xin, who sat cross-legged leaning to one side: "Since I ascended the throne, though it has been only a year, I have trodden as if on thin ice. In governance and statecraft, I have been cautious and meticulous, fearing that insufficient consideration might cause my policies to affect the national economy and people's livelihood, thereby losing the people's hearts..."

"Your Majesty is benevolent!" Another chorus of praise.

Having said so much, Liu Chengyou needed a pause. He took the tea handed over by Zhang Dejun, moistened his throat, and had more to say: "Among those present, there are honored nobles and dukes, great ministers of the court, generals commanding troops, military governors of the provinces, and local officials. The Great Han's rivers and mountains are guarded and defended by all of you together!"

"Since the founding of the Great Han, external foes have not ceased and internal disorder has not ended. Through the late emperor's and my own campaigns east and west, north and south, exhausting two years of effort, have we only now caused the blades of war to rest somewhat and the realm's troubles to be slightly alleviated. Now, throughout the court and the countryside, across the circuits, prefectures, and counties, all should share their responsibilities and share in the toil and worry. Still more should we remember the wounds and hardships, redouble our diligence and compassion, investigate the suffering of the villages, remove the vexatious burdens of the prefectures and counties, encourage farming and sericulture, examine and correct wrongful accusations, and together restore all governance to answer the toil and worry. All ministers, you should understand my painstaking heart!"

"We respectfully obey Your Majesty's instruction!" The civil and military officials who bowed spoke this time with great unanimity.

"See that? Our His Majesty—speaking these fine words, expounding these principles—he's getting smoother and smoother at it!" Liu Xin said in a low voice to Murong Yanchao sitting beside him.

Though Liu Xin's level of appreciation was not high and his comprehension somewhat lacking, he could still sense the targeted intent behind Liu Chengyou's words and actions. First he led a crowd of civil and military officials to worship some "Lord Guan" and speak at length on loyalty and righteousness. Then he talked about the people's hearts and the people's will—this touched Liu Xin's sensitive spot.

Clearly, Liu Xin overestimated himself. Liu Chengyou personally worshipped Lord Guan, talked until his mouth was dry, and delivered that entire speech—how could it be for the sake of this worthless imperial uncle?

"Your Majesty, the sacrifice is complete. Shall we return to the temporary palace?" Seeing that Liu Chengyou seemed to have finished his address, the waiting Zhang Dejun stepped forward to request instructions.

Sweeping his gaze around, Liu Chengyou touched the yellow jade thumb ring on his thumb, then waved his hand with great dignity: "Let's return!"

Just as Zhang Dejun was about to announce the order, as if receiving a signal, Zhao Li darted out from among the civil officials, hurried forward with a stern expression, holding a memorial high above his head with both hands, and said in a deep voice, word by word: "Your servant Zhao Li, of the Palace Memorial Office, has important matters to report to Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou withdrew the hand resting on Zhang Dejun, sat back down, and gestured faintly: "Speak!"

Zhao Li kept his head deeply bowed: "Your servant impeaches the Deputy Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard, Military Governor of the Zhongwu Army, Duke of Cai—Liu Xin!"

One sentence, as if it had a mind-clearing effect—in an instant, the gaze of every official present converged on Zhao Li. Especially Liu Xin, who straightened his body at once, his previously wavering gaze firming up, staring at Zhao Li with cold, cruel eyes.

"This Palace Memorial Officer Zhao—his nerve is truly something!" That was probably the sentiment in the hearts of all the officials who were in the dark.

Liu Chengyou's body slowly relaxed, his gaze noting the reactions of the assembled ministers, while he casually gestured, his tone indifferent: "Speak!"

"The Duke of Cai, during his tenure in Xuzhou, violated the law and disrupted order, acting with utter recklessness, so that the entire prefecture, high and low, was filled with curses and the people's resentment boiled over. Through our investigation, his crimes number ten. First, speaking insolently and complaining of the sovereign; second, shielding wicked servants and bullying the good and honest; third, using household goods and expenditures beyond his station and rites; fourth, abusing cruel punishments and harming living beings; fifth, corruptly coveting wealth and selling offices and titles; sixth, inventing pretexts and arbitrarily levying assessments; seventh, acting lawlessly and forcibly seizing land; eighth, oppressing subordinate colleagues and violating women; ninth, using public office for private ends and holding state law in contempt; tenth, letting soldiers run wild and plundering the people's property..."

Though the impeachment memorial listed only ten items, judging by Zhao Li's manner, he clearly had more to say—likely, had he been asked to fabricate another ten, he could have produced them just as readily.

Zhang Dejun took the memorial and quickly handed it to Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou, for his part, gave it a brief scan, closed it, and weighed it in his hand a few times.

He looked toward Liu Xin: "Imperial Uncle, this is an impeachment memorial against you. What do you think of what it says?"

Liu Xin gave Zhao Li a cold glance, a flash of brutality passing through his eyes, then looked away and directly at Liu Chengyou: "What does Your Majesty think?"

The atmosphere in the gathering grew increasingly heavy.

"The Imperial Uncle has not yet answered my question?" Liu Chengyou asked again in the same indifferent tone.

Liu Xin did not even blink, and with a cold face rebuked: "Wild fabrications, slanderous words!"

Liu Xin—he actually produced such a ready phrase, seeming to have prepared in advance. His eyes showed not a trace of guilt.

Liu Chengyou nodded, turned his head to look at Zhao Li, who still knelt with his head touching the ground, and said coldly: "Palace Memorial Officer Zhao, do you know who it is you have accused?"

"Your servant knows. Your Majesty's imperial uncle!"

"What you have alleged—do you have evidence?"

"Every single item has been investigated and verified with evidence. I beg Your Majesty to look into it clearly!"

After a moment of silence, Liu Chengyou abruptly rose, expressionless, and strode away quickly.

Leaving behind one sentence: "Zhao Li, today you have ruined my good mood!"

He made no specific statement, but having no stance was the best stance.