Chapter 379: Kunming Hall—Chongzheng Hall

The sky was high, the clouds pale, and the layered forests were all dyed in autumn hues—a scene of deep autumn.

The Eastern Capital, the imperial city, the inner palace, Kunming Hall.

The air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus—rich, yet not cloying, pleasant, and refreshing to the mind. It was early morning, and the sky had long since brightened. Emperor Liu Chengyou was still lingering on the couch, holding a beauty in his arms. The morning arousal had already subsided, and his hands moved cleanly, merely caressing the delicate waist of the Empress beneath the brocade quilt.

"Your Majesty, it is getting late—time to rise!" The elder Lady Fu leaned close to Liu Chengyou, gently nudging him as she spoke. Her jade-like face was soft, her cheeks tinged with crimson, having received the sovereign's favor and been well nourished by it.

Liu Chengyou still kept his eyes closed, his voice languid: "It's rare to steal a moment of leisure and enjoy the warmth of a beauty's embrace, yet you're pushing me away!"

Her increasingly voluptuous body pressed close against Liu Chengyou, and as their cheeks brushed and temples rubbed, the elder Lady Fu whispered with a light smile: "This is unlike Your Majesty's usual self. If the sovereign does not rise, and Your Majesty lingers too long in Kunming Hall, I fear the remonstrating officials of the outer court will have words of criticism again. Though I hold the position of Empress, I am but a woman; I cannot bear such censure. I beg Your Majesty to understand..."

The Empress was virtuous and sensible; conversing with her always yielded something of value. Between husband and wife, there was harmony like lutes playing in concert, and Liu Chengyou was quite fond of her. Yet these occasional veiled remonstrances and urgings did somewhat dampen the romantic mood.

"In my view! With an Empress like you, the subjects of the Great Han would love you too much to do otherwise—how would they dare to criticize?" Opening his eyes, he planted a kiss on the Empress's slightly exposed jade shoulder, and as he spoke, Liu Chengyou sat up.

Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu immediately gave orders outward: "Attendants! Serve His Majesty in rising!"

The curtains slowly drew open, and beautiful maids and comely serving girls came bearing cups and basins. Amidst the feast of temptations, Liu Chengyou once again experienced that gentleness capable of softening bones and melting willpower.

A bowl of millet porridge, plus a few slices of osmanthus cake—that was Liu Chengyou's morning meal. The food tasted quite good. The only flaw was that amidst the hall's fragrance lingered a faint odd odor—the smell of excrement...

To the left of the table, the culprit was held in the elder Lady Fu's arms. After having his soiled cloth changed, the discomfort having been cleaned away, he was quite content—no longer crying, but instead smiling ceaselessly at Liu Chengyou.

"You still have the nerve to smile—you've thrown everyone into a fluster this early in the morning!" Taking two deep breaths and registering the gradually fading odor, Liu Chengyou said to the swaddled imperial prince.

As if understanding Liu Chengyou's words, the smile on the infant's tender face receded somewhat. He coughed twice—choked by his own saliva.

Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu couldn't help but shoot Liu Chengyou a reproachful glance, gently patting the prince's back: "A child speaks without restraint—surely Your Majesty won't quibble with Second Young Master?"

Last winter, Liu Chengyou had gained two new sons: one born of Empress Lady Fu, named Yang, with the childhood name Muge; and one born of Noble Consort Gao, named Xi, with the childhood name Liangge.

Additionally, Worthy Consort Lady Zhe was also full-term in her pregnancy, nearing labor. Barring any mishap, the imperial house would soon gain another son.

Once the infant resumed his carefree laughter, Liu Chengyou felt a surge of emotion. A beloved wife at his side, a son in his arms—if this were an ordinary household, it could well be called happiness and peace.

"I'll return to Chongzheng Hall now. Winter is approaching and the weather grows cold—you and the child should take good care. As for the Empress Dowager, it's inconvenient for me to visit for now; go and pay my respects on my behalf..." Finishing his meal and wiping his mouth, Liu Chengyou instructed the elder Lady Fu.

The Empress Dowager Lady Li was devoted to Buddhism, and because of the suppression of Buddhism, she was quite upset. For some time now, she had not been paying much attention to Liu Chengyou. However, angry as she was, she never said much about the court's suppression of Buddhism, nor did she use her status as Empress Dowager to interfere and cause trouble for Liu Chengyou.

In the inner palace, if one spoke of deep understanding of righteousness, the Empress Dowager stood first. The longer time passed, the more Liu Chengyou respected this mother of his—from the bottom of his heart.

"Yes! I understand!" The Empress looked very understanding, rising to make a bow: "Farewell to Your Majesty!"

Returning to Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou quickly recovered his composure and slipped back into his role. The gradual concentration of sovereign power was accompanied by the concentration of governmental affairs—too many matters required his personal review, decision, and approval.

The increased burden sometimes made Liu Chengyou feel overwhelmed, but this was the necessary price of monarchical centralization. To hold power in hand and still expect ease and leisure—how could such a good thing exist?

In the hall, there were two petitioners: Chancellor Feng Dao, and Vice Commissioner of the State Finance Commission Xue Juzheng. Compared to the early days of the Han's rise, the court's ministers had basically been completely replaced. Although Wang Zhang still bore the title of chancellor, he had essentially retreated behind the scenes, recuperating at home. The current head of the State Finance Commission was Xue Juzheng.

Xue Juzheng was in the prime of life, fond of reading and skilled in writing. His nature was lenient and simple, bearing the demeanor of a gentleman—one could not help but feel admiration at the sight of him. Compared to Wang Zhang, Xue Juzheng was evidently more respectful toward Liu Chengyou, the Son of Heaven.

"Your Majesty, this is the calculation and deliberation of the State Finance Commission's clerks, setting the salary households for county magistrates, registrars, and auxiliary officials. I beg Your Majesty to review and approve!" With an impeccable posture, he presented the memorial in his hands.

Setting the salary households for prefectural and county officials was a task Liu Chengyou had assigned a few days prior. In Liu Chengyou's view, the State Finance Commission's efficiency was still somewhat slow. He skimmed through it briefly—it was basically determined according to household registration numbers: for counties with over three thousand households, the magistrate received ten thousand per month and the registrar eight thousand; for counties with over two thousand households, the magistrate received eight thousand and the registrar five thousand; for counties with under two thousand households, the magistrate received six thousand and the registrar four thousand...

Having been deliberated and agreed upon by the assembled ministers, there was basically nothing to fault. It passed smoothly through Liu Chengyou: "Approved! I have no objections—execute according to this!"

Before Xue Juzheng could respond, he heard Liu Chengyou add another remark: "However, the registered adult population figures for the prefectures and counties across the realm still need to be re-investigated and re-verified. With this rectification of the Buddhist order and the registration of returned-to-lay monks into the household registers, this is the perfect opportunity to conduct a comprehensive population survey!"

A "population census" had already been carried out in stages during Liu Chengyou's reign, but previously, limited by the court's energy and insufficient control over the localities, it had been intermittent, with no major breakthroughs. Judging by the Emperor's current resolve, he intended to implement it thoroughly.

Pondering how to accomplish the political task assigned by the Son of Heaven, Xue Juzheng said nothing superfluous, merely accepting the order: "Yes!"

"Any new progress on the rectification of Buddhist temples?" Liu Chengyou turned to Feng Dao.

The passage of years did not seem to have left obvious changes on the face of the old fox Feng Dao. Maintaining a good state of mind, Feng Dao was still the same—white beard, hoary head, and vigorous spirit. At present, Feng Dao had become the nominal head of the Hall of State Affairs.

"I was just about to report to Your Majesty!" He rose first, completing the formalities before sitting back down, then said to Liu Chengyou: "According to reports from the various circuits and prefectures, as of the twentieth day of the ninth month, within the borders of the Great Han, twenty-two thousand six hundred and twenty temples have been abolished, one hundred fifty-nine thousand three hundred monks and nuns have returned to lay life, three thousand seven hundred and sixty-three criminals sheltering under Buddhist protection have been arrested, and approximately five million two hundred thousand mu of land have been confiscated..."

A string of figures—impressive results, yet also representing the catastrophe of Buddhism, earth-shattering and heaven-crumbling.

"Quite a bountiful harvest!" Liu Chengyou's tone was relaxed as he nodded in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Feng Dao couldn't help but counsel: "Your Majesty, this rectification of Buddhism and reform of abuses has reached its extreme in both scale and severity. There is considerable criticism among the people. The common folk do not understand Your Majesty's grand strategy, nor do they grasp the court's great righteousness. Recently, in various prefectures, there have been people pitying the Buddhists, gathering in crowds and causing disturbances. In this old minister's view, the rectification of temples should be halted at an appropriate time, to ease popular sentiment and vent the people's anger. Otherwise, I fear it will provoke even greater unrest!"

"Minister Feng speaks with mature counsel for the state!" Seeing Feng Dao's worried expression, Liu Chengyou said directly: "The Buddhist order boasts of teaching the dharma and exhorting goodness, claiming to be pure cultivators beyond the mundane world—yet now they use deception and coercion to rally the people against the court. This must be private desire at work. From this, it is clear that the rectification cannot yet be concluded. Matters have reached this point—we cannot stop halfway, or the troubles left behind will be even greater!"

Liu Chengyou's words were truly somewhat unreasonable. Since ancient times, taking another's wealth was like killing their parents. The court's suppression of Buddhism, for the temples, was no longer merely a matter of taking wealth—there was the fear of the destruction of their very path. Could one really expect them to remain unmoved and accept it peacefully?

Hearing this, Feng Dao was helpless, but he neither dared nor needed to defy the Emperor's will.

The local backlash was still within Liu Chengyou's acceptable range. According to earlier surveys, the Great Han's various circuits and prefectures had approximately thirty-five thousand temples. What had been abolished so far still fell short of the original target by nearly ten thousand.