Chapter 357: Trouble in Xingzhou

Compared to the cities along the route where he had merely passed through and lodged for the night, Liu Chengyou stayed a full three days in Yedu. During these three days, Liu Chengyou made a thorough inspection of Yedu, this mighty city of Hebei, examining both its inner workings and outer defenses, its strengths and weaknesses.

On the first day, as in Xuzhou, he reviewed the imperial army and the Yedu troops—an essential duty wherever the Son of Heaven went, to demonstrate his regard for the military. Liu Chengyou held a rather simple-minded notion: he intended to repeatedly and constantly make his presence felt, thereby displaying his imperial authority and rallying hearts. Though no immediate results were visible, Liu Chengyou believed that familiarity breeds affection. Over time, there would surely be some positive feedback, and so he planned to treat this kind of political performance as a long-term undertaking.

On the second day, Liu Chengyou, accompanied by Gao Xingzhou and the officials left in charge of Yedu, inspected the river works of Yedu. Although the court's flood-control efforts were focused on the Central Plains, the Yongji Canal, as the vital transportation artery of the Hebei region, still required dredging and maintenance.

On the third day, Liu Chengyou held a banquet to entertain the worthies, prominent clans, and honored nobles of the Wei region, soliciting their opinions and memorials to demonstrate his wisdom in hearing all sides. He also received farmers, artisans, and merchants of the Yedu region, especially the "representatives" among the disaster-affected households, offering them kind words of comfort so that they might bask in the sovereign's grace.

Only on the fourth day did the imperial entourage set out once more, continuing the northern inspection tour. Before departing, Liu Chengyou issued two edicts. One ordered Gao Xingzhou to cease repairs on the Yedu palace, to avoid wasting money and grain—though in truth there had never been much major construction to begin with, it sufficiently displayed the Son of Heaven's attitude of halting public works; the second granted Gao Xingzhou an additional one thousand households of fief income, as recompense for his merits in guarding Yedu—of course, nominal fief income only.

Turning westward, they entered Xiangzhou territory. The road ahead basically followed the route Liu Chengyou had taken when he had led his army east out of the Taihang Mountains back then. Traveling north, he reminisced and sighed with emotion all the way.

In Anyang, an altar was erected to offer sacrifices to the hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who had been massacred by the Liao army. He trod the old trails of pursuit, recounting the campaigns against the Liao to the young Lady Zhe, all the way until they reached Xingzhou territory.

Upon reaching Xingzhou, he was respectfully welcomed into Longgang, the prefectural seat, by Liu Chengyun, the Commandery Prince of Julu, who currently served as Military Governor.

"Your Majesty, please punish me..." In the rear hall of the prefectural office, after exchanging somewhat awkward pleasantries with the Son of Heaven for a while, Liu Chengyun suddenly rose, breaking the harmonious atmosphere.

Liu Chengyou sat very steadily, casting a somewhat surprised glance at his adoptive elder brother, looking at him: "Brother Yun, why do you say this?"

Liu Chengyun's expression was grave, head bowed as he replied: "Your subject appointed the wrong man and failed to supervise my subordinates properly, allowing the County Magistrate of Shahe to oppress the villagers, tyrannize the region, all without my knowledge!"

What Liu Chengyun referred to was the matter of Shahe County. When the imperial entourage had passed through, upon examining its governance, they discovered its misrule. The county magistrate, one surnamed Peng, acted entirely on his own authority, a veritable local tyrant, treating the people under his jurisdiction as beasts of burden. As for the many policies promulgated by the court, he regarded them as nothing at all.

Though along the journey, Liu Chengyou had already seen much of this kind of local autonomy, and as long as there was some slight achievement in governance, Liu Chengyou would express a measure of recognition and offer words of encouragement.

However, such a complete disregard for the authority of the central court still provoked Liu Chengyou's anger. The outcome was not hard to guess—Liu Chengyou directly ordered the Shahe County Magistrate seized, and suppressing the fury that rushed to his head, had him sent in a prisoner's cage cart to the Eastern Capital, where the relevant authorities would interrogate and punish him. Though Liu Chengyou calmly wanted to follow proper procedure, with his will behind it, the Shahe County Magistrate's fate was absolutely sealed; given the crimes he had committed, there was no way he would escape with his life.

And this county magistrate had been appointed by Liu Chengyun after he had taken up his post—indeed, the man was a retainer from his own household.

"Brother Yun, rise!" Toward Liu Chengyun's confession of guilt, Liu Chengyou's attitude was very mild, his hand raised slightly in a gesture: "Everyone makes mistakes in judging people. Even I am like this, so how much more so you? As for Shahe County, I have already ordered people to handle it; it should not implicate Brother Yun. Your temperament, I know well. Had you not been deceived by him, this would never have come to pass..."

Liu Chengyou's words were full of intent to shield and absolve Liu Chengyun. Liu Chengyun also appeared deeply moved, his head hanging lower, his voice choked: "His Majesty's words fill your subject with shame!"

Noticing Liu Chengyun's somewhat cautious demeanor, Liu Chengyou offered words of comfort: "The realm that Gaozu established requires our steadfast protection. You and I are brothers, one family. Toward you, I naturally have trust and confidence, without reservation. There is no need to be so formal!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyun bowed again: "When I left the capital back then, His Majesty's earnest teachings still ring in my ears. Having failed His Majesty's trust, your subject is truly uneasy."

It had been nearly two years since Liu Chengyun had been sent out to govern Xingzhou, and back then it had been Yang Bin who recommended him. Anguo Army was a major garrison of Hebei, governing the two prefectures of Xing and Ming, comprising over ten counties. On this visit, Liu Chengyou had investigated—during Liu Chengyun's time in post, one word could describe it: mediocre.

No outstanding achievements in governance, no remarkable accomplishments—he merely sat passively in Longgang, with all policies emanating from his staff office. He advocated a "rule by non-interference," with the government rarely intervening, and so the recovery of people's livelihoods in Xing and Ming progressed in a very simple manner and at a simple pace.

Of course, the result of this was that during the previous disaster, the hundred-plus thousand people of the two prefectures were essentially left in a state of "living or dying on their own." The government did little, and the common people suffered heavy losses.

As for Liu Chengyun's performance in his post, it was clearly impossible for Liu Chengyou to be satisfied. However, his expectations for these imperial clansmen of the Great Han had already been lowered to the extreme. With the experience of Xuzhou behind him, the fact that this adoptive elder brother and cousin had not, like Liu Xin, acted wantonly and cruelly slaughtered the people was already "rare and commendable."

By comparison, the problem of Shahe County was only a minor issue. The disorder of a single county was far better than evil spreading to entire prefectures. Moreover, if Liu Chengyun truly displayed exceptional military and administrative talent in the region, developing Xing and Ming into a powerful fief of the northern prefectures—given his biological father Liu Chong in Taiyuan—Liu Chengyou in the Eastern Capital would likely again find himself unable to eat or sleep in peace, tossing and turning restlessly.

"Since you govern a region, how can one who rules the people remain forever within the gates of his office, confined to his walled city? In your spare time, you should go out more often, observe right and wrong from above, and only then avoid being deceived by petty men..." Regardless of what he thought inwardly, Liu Chengyou still spoke with righteous authority, admonishing Liu Chengyun.

Facing the Son of Heaven's guidance, Liu Chengyun naturally responded with deference: "Your subject will henceforth surely make frequent visits among the people to understand their conditions!"

The heart-to-heart talk with the Emperor lasted until evening, when Liu Chengyun finally returned to his temporary lodgings. The prefectural office residence was naturally vacated for the Emperor and his consort to stay.

When alone, Liu Chengyun's demeanor changed, utterly different from the caution and humility he displayed in Liu Chengyou's presence. The winter was bitterly cold; concealed beneath his luxurious fur robes, his expression was very calm, the charcoal fire burning in the room casting light upon that face heavy with contemplation.

It was not until a family member presented a letter, in a very mysterious manner. Fingering a wax pellet in his hand, Liu Chengyun's thick brows furrowed slightly as he asked: "Where did this come from?"

"A man with a Yedu accent delivered it to the door. He did not reveal his identity, but said it must be presented to the Prince."

"Where is the man now?" Liu Chengyun asked.

"He has already left!"

Liu Chengyun immediately showed displeasure, sharply reprimanding the servant. He crushed the wax pellet, extracted a crumpled slip of paper, opened it by the lamplight, and with a single glance, his expression changed drastically.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Liu Chengyou had already crawled into bed with the Worthy Consort, Lady Zhe, their bellies and backs pressed together, whispering privately in the night...

"Your Majesty, Vice Minister of War Wang Jingchong requests an audience, saying he has important matters to report!" Zhang Dejun's cautious announcement interrupted Liu Chengyou's movements.

It was already late, and Liu Chengyou instinctively replied: "Not seeing him!"

It was the young Lady Zhe who, blushing slightly, pressed down on Liu Chengyou's hand and advised: "Your Majesty, for this man to seek an audience in the dead of night, he must have important matters. How could you turn him away at the door?"