Chapter 328: Yang Ye Garrisons Dai

No matter how uncomfortable he felt inside, Liu Chengyou still read through the reorganization plan Wang Jun had submitted, from beginning to end, with full seriousness.

It was clear that Wang Jun had fully settled into his role as Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs. The plan had been prepared with care and was well-organized; unless one deliberately tried to find fault, there was nothing to criticize.

The first point alone satisfied Liu Chengyou. Rotating the garrison first—recalling the troops stationed outside the capital back to the Eastern Capital, where they could be reorganized and trimmed in Kaifeng, kept under control at all times—was far more measured and steady.

This was no longer merely a matter of reorganization. Take the imperial army at Hua, Chan, and Daming for example—most of the troops there had been ordered to garrison those places during Liu Zhiyuan's reign. Though the time had not been all that long, Liu Chengyou had now been Emperor for a full year, and it was time for the imperial army outside the capital to return to the Eastern Capital for reforging and remolding, to experience the majesty and grace of the current Son of Heaven.

Setting aside personality and style, in terms of sheer ability, Wang Jun did have some real skill. Liu Chengyou had a fair scale in his heart on this point—otherwise, he would not have thought of transferring Wang Jun into the Bureau of Military Affairs to divide Guo Wei's power.

As he was mulling this over, Li Shaoyou arrived on summons.

"Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou closed the memorial in his hand, raised his eyes to look at Li Shaoyou, and said in a flat, matter-of-fact tone: "This time in Xuzhou, the Wude Office did a great deal of work, and you put in considerable effort. However, I cannot openly commend you."

"Your servant understands!" Li Shaoyou lowered his shoulders and clasped his hands, his expression unchanged.

Liu Chengyou's demeanor grew even more relaxed, and his tone took a turn: "In the early days of the Wude Office's establishment, strapped for funds, the days were quite hard. I hear you contributed your own family wealth to cover regular expenses, pay, and rewards..."

Hearing Liu Chengyou speak of it so casually, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, Li Shaoyou's heart involuntarily tensed up. Keeping his head deeply bowed, as if trying to make himself even more low-key, he replied with great deference: "In times of national financial strain, to serve His Majesty with loyalty is only my bounden duty!"

Liu Chengyou nodded, his expression radiating kindness, and said: "If all the civil and military officials of this court could serve the state and sovereign as my cousin does, how could I ever worry about the realm not being well-governed! However, public resources should not be funded by private wealth. Now that my personal treasury has a bit of surplus, whatever you contributed before, I will repay you in full. Additionally, I will allocate further funds as a modest reward for the meritorious agents under your command in this matter!"

"I thank Your Majesty!" Hearing this, Li Shaoyou did not refuse but accepted with composure. He knew well enough that there was no need to stand on ceremony with this sovereign in such matters—doing so would only be counterproductive.

"How many secret agents does the Wude Office have in the prefectures of Hedong?" After a moment of deliberation, Liu Chengyou asked.

Li Shaoyou could not help but glance up at Liu Chengyou, a hint of puzzlement in his mind, but he still answered promptly: "The Wude Office's surveillance and investigation focus remains on the Eastern Capital and its environs. The Northern Capital is far away—previously I only dispatched five agents north to Jinyang..."

Liu Chengyou's flat tone carried an unmistakable authority: "From now on, strengthen the intelligence-gathering forces in the Hedong region!"

"Yes!" Li Shaoyou's reply did not waste a single word.

But even as he accepted the order, his mind was spinning furiously, trying to fathom Liu Chengyou's intentions. Of course, he immediately thought of Liu Chong—but how could it be so easy to figure out at once? Seeing that Liu Chengyou showed no inclination to explain, he did not dare to ask rashly.

"Hmm... have the agents in Jinyang investigate whether the Hedong territories suffered winter disasters last year, and whether the damage was severe!" Liu Chengyou issued another order.

Li Shaoyou had just acknowledged when he saw Liu Chengyou's brows nearly shoot up. The Emperor drew in a slight breath and said: "Never mind—forget it!"

"Yes!" Li Shaoyou's expression grew even more solemn. He was not at all accustomed to this kind of vague, unclear feeling. But with the Son of Heaven present, he could only endure it silently.

After Li Shaoyou withdrew, Liu Chengyou could not help but shake his head forcefully, clearing his thoughts, and let out a sigh: "Zhang Dejun, convey my order—tomorrow I will personally inspect the granaries of the Eastern Capital. Have Chief Inspector Yang Ye of the Iron Cavalry accompany me!"

"Yes!"

The landlord's family had surplus grain now, and Liu Chengyou, as the biggest landlord of all, naturally had to see it with his own eyes—otherwise, how could he rest easy?

As for Li Shaoyou, after leaving the hall, he continued to ponder on his own. His steps were slow, but his expression gradually calmed, as if he had figured something out.

Having convinced himself he had seen through the matter, he murmured lightly to himself: "Enfeoffing a prince to win him over on one hand, secretly staying vigilant on the other—our His Majesty grows ever more unfathomable, ever more fearsome!"

"But then—is it the same for me?" Li Shaoyou reflected inwardly, and the ease at the corners of his mouth quickly vanished.

By the time he reached the Wude Office, gazing at the yamen nestled in a corner of the imperial city—its position low-key, yet its growing deterrent power undeniable—Li Shaoyou had recovered the bearing of a sole office chief wielding full authority. Amid the respectful salutes of the guards and staff, he entered his domain.

Striding in quickly, the first thing he did was summon his trusted confidants to arrange matters concerning Hedong and strengthen surveillance forces in the north. What the Emperor himself had personally instructed naturally had to be done well—and done quickly. From Li Shaoyou's understanding of Liu Chengyou, he might ask about it at any moment, and if the response was inadequate then, things would not bode well.

At dusk, Yang Ye walked alone along the roads of the Eastern Capital's wards, heading toward his own residence. His steps were slow but steady, and his handsome, imposing face clearly carried something on his mind—both anticipation and hesitation. The walls and alleyways on either side slowly receded behind him.

"The General has returned!" The Yang residence had a small gate, watched over by one of his household retainers, who rushed forward upon seeing him.

There were not many servants in the Yang household—originally only a few old soldiers who had followed Yang Ye, all of them informal and easygoing. It was only after he married that some female attendants were added, tempering the excessive masculine energy of the household. The maids had come as part of the dowry of Lady Feng, Yang Ye's wife, and even the steward came from the Feng household. Only then did his residence begin to look proper.

"Young lord!"

The gentle voice startled Yang Ye from his thoughts. He looked up and saw his wife, Lady Feng, whom he had married not long ago—very young, with a refined and graceful temperament, clearly a lady of a distinguished family.

"Accompanying His Majesty on the inspection must have tired you out!" Lady Feng asked with concern.

That day, Yang Ye had accompanied Liu Chengyou on the inspection of the Eastern Capital's granaries, essentially touring all the capital's storehouses, and afterward had been brought to the armory to review the military equipment. Though he had walked a great deal and the inspections were rather tedious, Yang Ye did not feel particularly tired.

At the question, Yang Ye shook his head and said: "It's nothing much! It's just that..."

The words came out, then stopped short.

Seeing this, Lady Feng could not help but be surprised and asked: "Is there something troubling you, young lord?"

Looking at Lady Feng, Yang Ye let out a sigh: "I'm afraid we will have to leave the capital!"

"Hmm? Has His Majesty given you some assignment?" Lady Feng—clearly well cultivated by Liu Feng Dao, with keen insight—immediately thought of the inspection: "No wonder His Majesty called on you for the granary inspection!"

Noticing his wife's intelligent demeanor, Yang Ye nodded and said: "His Majesty is sending me out of the capital, appointing me Militia Commissioner of Daizhou, to guard the frontier!"

Hearing this, Lady Feng smiled lightly and said: "Then I must congratulate you, young lord! His Majesty is sending you to build achievements and establish your name!"

Yang Ye sighed: "His Majesty's grace in recognizing my worth—I will repay it with utmost loyalty unto death. But this frontier posting—I fear it will be years away. You and I have only just married, and now I must trouble you to journey with me to that bitter, cold place of Daizhou, parting from your family. I fear it will be a hardship for you."

"It's no trouble!" Lady Feng's smile was warm and reassuring: "Your future is what matters, young lord. Besides, Grandfather is surely supportive as well!"

Yang Ye was not one for romantic words, but seeing his virtuous wife like this, he could not help but be moved, and instinctively reached out to take her hand.

"You have not returned to your hometown in many years, young lord. With this posting north, perhaps you can take the opportunity to return to Linzhou!" Lady Feng added, her voice still soft: "And I can accompany you to pay respects to your parents!"

At this mention, Yang Ye's face took on an expression of sincere gratitude. He clasped his hands toward the direction of the imperial city and said: "His Majesty has also permitted me to make a trip back, saying it would be returning home in glory..."

"If that's so, then His Majesty truly does think highly of you, young lord!"

The couple shared an intimate and understanding conversation. Near the evening meal, Feng Dao sent someone over, summoning the Yang couple to his residence. Having learned that his granddaughter's husband had been dispatched to the north, the old fox was somewhat uneasy and had words of advice and instruction to impart.