Chapter 387: The Trouble in Hedong

"Sit!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Both sovereign and subject took their seats. Liu Chengyou was silent for a while, and Wang Jingchong was not impatient either, quietly awaiting the Emperor's inquiry.

"The matter of suppressing Buddhism in Hedong—you handled it well. I did not misplace my trust in you!" Liu Chengyou's voice was as calm as ever, speaking in a deep tone: "The full details of the affair have been reported to me; I need not ask further. I hear you made an 'unexpected' gain in Hedong, concerning the Prince of Taiyuan. I am quite interested. Tell me—the Prince of Taiyuan is my blood uncle, who has long guarded Hedong. It has been many years since we last met. As his junior, I ought to show some concern..."

Though Liu Chengyou's tone was flat and unruffled, Wang Jingchong could sense the surging undercurrents hidden beneath—danger lurking within the calm.

Yet beneath his taut expression, Wang Jingchong's heart was somewhat stirred. He knew that the notion he had conceived in Xinzhou had once again proven a correct gamble. With the Son of Heaven's forcefulness and ambition, how could he tolerate the existence of something like an "independent kingdom" in Hedong—especially when it was his own uncle, Liu Chong?

Perhaps it was an illusion, but looking up from below, Wang Jingchong felt the Emperor's gaze was sharp and fearsome. Quickly steadying his nerves, Wang Jingchong still replied cautiously: "The Wude Office serves as Your Majesty's eyes and ears. In Hedong, I did observe certain matters, and I will venture to speak boldly. If anything I say is improper, I beg Your Majesty's pardon!"

"Speak!" Liu Chengyou's lips curled slightly: "Being overly cautious is not your style, Wang Jingchong. No need to hold back!"

With Liu Chengyou's words, Wang Jingchong no longer feigned reserve, though he still lowered his voice somewhat and reported solemnly: "Your Majesty, based on my on-site investigation in Hedong, the court must be on guard against your uncle!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyou suddenly burst into loud laughter, somewhat abrupt, the sound echoing through the hall. As if venting, it lasted for several breaths before Liu Chengyou spoke in a tone of lament: "On guard! Guard the north, hold the west, defend within, prepare without—I have heard such talk far too often. And now, must I even be on guard against my own blood uncle? Wang Jingchong, what are you playing at?"

Having vented like a man long suppressed, "raging in impotence," Liu Chengyou's expression shifted like a changing face—he composed himself, dismissed the attendants, and said flatly to Wang Jingchong: "Speak."

"Your Majesty, from my investigation, the Prince of Taiyuan has been secretly harboring ambitions in Hedong. He has long been estranged from the court, and sooner or later, trouble will arise!"

This time, Liu Chengyou did not interrupt him, letting him speak. Some of these things he had heard of before, but limited by his energy, he had not paid them much attention or conducted investigations. He still needed to hear the results of Wang Jingchong's "on-site inspection"—Liu Chengyou believed he had put his "heart" into it.

"The Prince of Taiyuan has been amassing wealth in Hedong with virtually no restraint. The temple properties across Hedong's prefectures are vast beyond measure. In this suppression of Buddhism, of the spoils seized by the officers and soldiers, the greater part fell into his hands. According to reports from the intelligence post in Jinyang, during the autumn of the suppression, in a single day, over three hundred carts laden with money, grain, and goods were transported into the city."

"The Prince of Taiyuan has built three great granaries southeast of his princely residence—one for storing grain and fodder, one for weapons, and one for money and goods. Gathering the wealth of all Hedong's prefectures, he withholds most of the taxes, money, and grain to stock them, with a standing guard of a thousand armored soldiers."

"Since the rise of the Han, when great armies were supplied to advance into the Central Plains, the people of Hedong have been impoverished and have not recovered after all these years. The Prince of Taiyuan has dispatched many tax officials, levying harsh and miscellaneous exactions, greatly disturbing the people and building deep resentment. In this suppression of Buddhism, the common folk were easily swayed, and Hedong has seen repeated unrest—this is one of the reasons. And the Prince of Taiyuan, though he actively suppressed the disturbances, also took the opportunity to seize wealth and harm the people, greatly damaging the region's vitality."

"Your Majesty's decrees and the court's policies are rarely implemented in Hedong—everything comes from the Hedong Military Governor's office. The various prefectures' generals and officials are appointed arbitrarily, with little reporting to the court. It is as if they have formed their own independent system."

Having said much, Wang Jingchong inexplicably felt his heart grow somewhat hollow, especially with the Son of Heaven sitting silently at the imperial desk, expressionless. Swallowing his saliva to moisten his throat, Wang Jingchong gritted his teeth and continued.

Only, his voice was no longer as resonant as before: "After Gaozu advanced into the Central Plains, the troops left behind—the governor's yabing guards and the prefectural garrison soldiers—numbered less than ten thousand. Now, from my rough investigation, over these three-plus years, the Prince of Taiyuan has recruited brave warriors, taken in fugitives, and mass-produced weapons and armor. He now has over thirty thousand cavalry and infantry! As for the monks ordered to return to lay life, the Prince of Taiyuan also sent his generals to pick out the strong and able-bodied to fill his ranks, gaining several thousand soldiers!"

"Does Hedong's population of able-bodied men even reach three hundred thousand?" Liu Chengyou suddenly spoke.

"Registered able-bodied men—probably not!" Wang Jingchong gave a rather uncertain answer.

Liu Chengyou said in a low, thoughtful tone: "With such a population supporting so many troops, 'militarism' is hardly the word for it. The suffering of the people under Hedong's rule can well be imagined."

The Son of Heaven's considerations were always far-sighted, beyond ordinary men. Wang Jingchong had indeed never thought of it from that angle, and he put on an expression of admiration:

"Your Majesty's words are most true!"

After Liu Chengyou spoke, though there was still much to report, Wang Jingchong tactfully did not continue. For he noticed that the look of "interest" on the Emperor's face was gradually fading, gradually growing numb.

After a long while, Liu Chengyou took a deep breath and said softly: "What you have reported today, I have taken note of. For now, keep it locked in your heart—do not let it leak out."

"Your Majesty..." Liu Chengyou's reaction was far beyond Wang Jingchong's expectations. He could not help opening his mouth, but in the end it became a single word: "Yes!"

"However, regarding the situation in Hedong, you must strengthen surveillance. Record all intelligence in the registers. But remember—the subordinates of the Wude Office must act with great care and mind their measure. After all, my uncle is still my uncle; he must not be underestimated or slighted..." Liu Chengyou added another instruction.

Wang Jingchong was momentarily speechless at these words, then his eyes rolled, and he suddenly realized that Liu Chengyou had no intention of moving against Hedong for now. He immediately replied: "Understood!"

After all, this time he was not staking his life in a desperate gamble like toppling Yang in Xingzhou. In his thinking, with today's report, no matter how the situation in Hedong developed in the future, he would remain useful. As long as he was useful, that was an opportunity for merit.

"In your journey to Hedong, you have rendered great service. I have dispatched various envoys to oversee the regions, and only you have handled matters most to my satisfaction."

"To serve Your Majesty is my loyal wish!" Sensing a hint of something promising in Liu Chengyou's tone, Wang Jingchong maintained his low-key humility.

"As for your office, I will not promote you for now!" Liu Chengyou said directly: "I ennoble you as Duke Ren, with the concurrent title of Minister of War, and a fief of three hundred households. As for the money and goods you obtained on the Hedong mission, no need to hand them over—consider them my reward, to be disposed of as you see fit!"

As he said this, Liu Chengyou gave Wang Jingchong a meaningful look that made his jaw tighten.

Though Liu Chengyou's reward still fell short of what Wang Jingchong had hoped for, since the Emperor had spoken thus, what more could he say? He dared not even show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction, and knelt respectfully in the hall to give thanks.

"Additionally, I intend to establish the Wude Camp, with a strength of one thousand men. You shall lead the Right Camp!"

Compared to the title, honorific rank, and money, this reward from Liu Chengyou was what truly delighted Wang Jingchong beyond his expectations.

Glancing again at the wounds on his body, Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "Since you have returned to the capital, rest well and recover from your injuries. Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and have the imperial physicians examine you, and prepare some medicinal decoctions!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"