Chapter 362: Trivial Matters

The hour was still early, yet the sky had already darkened deeply. The howling wind beat tirelessly against the door, as if determined to break through it. The farther north one traveled, the more unbearable the bitter cold became.

This winter of the second year of Qianyou was indeed excessively cold. Liu Chengyou was a man who could generally withstand the cold well, yet even he found this journey north hard to endure against the biting chill.

As Son of Heaven, even though he had always advocated frugality, the warming measures he enjoyed were still quite abundant. Even so, he still felt the cold on his skin. Extending his own experience to others, how difficult must it be for the common folk who lacked the means and supplies to ward off the cold?

On this northern inspection tour, Liu Chengyou's purposes were to patrol the borders and review the troops, and also to look into the people's livelihoods, console the disaster-stricken prefectures and counties, and bestow the emperor's grace. In essence, this journey north was still a grand political performance.

Considering the bitter cold climate, and recalling that since the northern tour began, he had issued orders to seal off mountains, forests, rivers, and marshes, prohibiting the people from gathering and hunting, Liu Chengyou issued an edict while temporarily staying in Jizhou, clearly instructing the prefectures, commanderies, and counties of Hebei to lift the bans and open the forests, allowing the people of all localities to fell wood for warmth, and ordering officials and military officers at all levels to actively aid poor and weak households.

Regardless of the actual effect, the Son of Heaven's benevolent virtue and grace had to be spread abroad, and the Emperor's glorious image had to be established. Such things Liu Chengyou had done more than once, and he was thoroughly practiced at them.

Still, compared to his zeal for measuring the realm with his own feet and carriage wheels, this bit of bitter cold and fierce wind up north counted for little.

Within the traveling palace, Liu Chengyou sat cross-legged on his couch, wrapped in a quilt, staring expressionlessly at a chart on the small table before him. It was a military map, and his calm, cold gaze rested upon that stretch of Yan territory named Youzhou.

Though it was heartland south of the frontier, bordering Han cities, with the dark Han banners standing tall within its walls, to the Great Han court it had always hung detached beyond reach, isolated in the north.

According to Liu Chengyou's original calculations, the lands of Youyan were a key defense line against Khitan incursions. But up to now, the effect was there, yet in Liu Chengyou's mind, it always left him somewhat unsettled.

His finger pressed on the map, and a certain impulse stirred. Liu Chengyou wanted to raise troops and march north, to take back the vast territories of Youyan that had drifted from the Central Lands for over a decade and return them to Han soil. Why should a man not bear a Wu hook and reclaim the fourteen prefectures of the passes? Such was the ambition, more or less. Though Liu Chengyou had always been deep and reserved, he was not entirely without hot blood.

Yet it was merely that fleeting impulse — once contemplated, it passed.

"Your Majesty, have some hot soup!" Zhang Dejun carried a small bowl of broth, stepped to the couch, and presented it respectfully.

Liu Chengyou glanced at it. The small porcelain bowl held broth, steaming with heat, its delicious aroma whetting the appetite. But its appearance differed from what was commonly served in the Han palace, so he could not help asking.

Zhang Dejun replied in a low voice: "This was made personally by the Worthy Consort in the kitchen — a barbarian-style soup, said to ward off cold and protect the body. In making it, the lady even burned her hand."

"How bad is the injury?" Liu Chengyou was somewhat surprised at Lady Zhe's culinary skill as he inhaled the tantalizing aroma — no wonder she had not come to present the soup herself. He asked gently.

"This servant asked; it is nothing serious," said Zhang Dejun.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou immediately raised his hand and instructed: "Send the field headquarters' imperial physician to see her, prepare some medicinal ointment, and tell the lady that I will go see her shortly!"

"Yes..."

Though the soup had been sent by Lady Zhe, it still had to be tasted before entering Liu Chengyou's mouth. Its flavor carried the distinct character of Fuzhou, offering a somewhat novel experience.

"Your subject Wang Qiwu pays respects to Your Majesty!" As a close minister, Wang Qiwu had to pass through layers of verification before reaching the sovereign. The farther north they went, the stronger the protection around Liu Chengyou became — seemingly owing to that "false alarm" at Xingzhou some days before.

Glancing at the stack of documents in Wang Qiwu's hands, Liu Chengyou said: "Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Qiwu raised his hands and reported expressionlessly: "These are the last documents Chancellor Yang handled — thirteen directives, not yet sent out."

On the northern tour, Chancellor Yang Bin's "sudden disappearance" had become a secret matter, but as a confidant of the Son of Heaven, Wang Qiwu still knew something of the reasons.

"What are they about?" Liu Chengyou grew somewhat interested and asked.

"Your subject has reviewed them — they are all mundane matters of the Ministry of Personnel and the court," Wang Qiwu replied.

"How can there be mundane matters in the halls of state?" Liu Chengyou immediately shook his head and countered.

At this, Wang Qiwu's breath caught, the corners of his mouth twitching bitterly, and he hastily apologized: "Your subject misspoke!"

Waving his hand, Liu Chengyou said: "Let me see!"

Liu Chengyou flipped through them one by one, scanning ten lines at a glance, taking them all in. Compared to those weighty military and political affairs, these documents could indeed be called "mundane matters."

Liu Chengyou's focus was naturally on Yang Bin's directives. In nearly two full years of his reign, his governing ability had made considerable progress.

In Liu Chengyou's judgment, Yang Bin's handling of these routine affairs was indeed seasoned — after all, he was an old hand who had governed from the local level to the central court for many years. If one truly had to find fault, it could only be said that he was too harsh, too severe, leaving no room for mercy — full of Chancellor Yang's personal style.

A thoughtful glint flashed in his dark eyes. After pondering for a moment, Liu Chengyou instructed: "Handle these dozen-odd matters exactly according to Yang Bin's directives, without alteration, and send them to the Eastern Capital for execution. Though somewhat delayed, it can serve as a final closure for him!"

Before Wang Qiwu could acknowledge the order, Liu Chengyou pulled out one of them and added: "Regarding Bureau Director Zhang Yisu's violation of regulations — he should indeed be punished. But considering it is his first offense, demotion and loss of salary will suffice. There is no need to send him out of the capital to a distant frontier post — demote him within the capital to serve as a county magistrate!"

Surprise flickered in Wang Qiwu's eyes. Having served before the imperial presence for quite some time, he knew that Liu Chengyou had always advocated "rule of law" — this was the first time he had heard such words of personal favor spoken seriously from the Son of Heaven's mouth.

But upon considering Zhang Yisu's identity, Wang Qiwu could understand. Yang Bin's fall was not like the light touch at Xingzhou — it would surely stir a great uproar. The news had not yet fully spread, but one thing was certain: once it drifted to the Eastern Capital, a storm would erupt at once, and it would likely become the most violent upheaval in the halls of state since the Qianyou era began.

The two chancellors, Yang Bin and Wang Zhang, had once been the pillars of the court at the founding of the state. With Yang Bin fallen, Wang Zhang's side must not have problems. And since Zhang Yisu was Wang Zhang's only son-in-law, some face had to be given.

Noticing Wang Qiwu's expression, Liu Chengyou knew he had likely guessed his intentions. He did not mind, and seeing that Wang Qiwu lingered without leaving, he asked calmly: "Anything else?"

At the question, Wang Qiwu clasped his hands, then produced another document and presented it: "Chancellor-Governor Zhang, the Military Governor of Chengde, memorializes that, hearing the imperial carriage is heading north, he requests to come to Yongqing to face Your Majesty!"

"On this tour, I summoned the military commanders of several northern prefectures and garrisons to Yongqing but did not include his name — Zhang Yanwei is feeling uneasy!" Liu Chengyou remarked with amusement.

Not daring to comment on the Son of Heaven's words, Wang Qiwu merely asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, how shall we reply to Chancellor-Governor Zhang?"

Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then instructed: "Draft a letter in reply, with cordial wording. Tell Zhang Yanwei that the final stop of this northern tour is Hengzhou, and with the weather so bitterly cold, there is no need for him to travel several hundred li to pay homage!"

"Yes!"