Chapter 514: Holding Court at Chongzheng Hall 1

At a family banquet, Liu Chengyou left halfway through. Besides being the head of a household, he was also the sovereign of a nation, and matters of state weighed heavier in his heart than domestic affairs.

Around dusk, Liu Chengyou begged leave of the Empress Dowager and made straight for Chongzheng Hall. The moon was thin and the stars numerous; beneath the night sky, the palace stood majestic. After more than four months, walking once again among the familiar halls, Liu Chengyou felt a fresh surge of emotion.

"Where are the ministers?" Liu Chengyou asked.

As the chief of the palace eunuchs, Zhang Dejun had been kept busy since returning to the palace, and had only just finished when he came to await orders. Hearing the question, he hurriedly replied: "The lords are waiting in the Eastern Hall for Your Majesty's summons!"

Acknowledging this, Liu Chengyou quickened his pace toward Chongzheng Hall. Inside, the most powerful ministers of the Eastern Capital court were waiting quietly. When the Son of Heaven strode in, they all rose and bowed in reverence. Liu Chengyou seated himself properly at the imperial desk, and only after they had completed their obeisance did he gesture for them to rise and take their seats.

Having not seen them for over four months, everyone looked somewhat unfamiliar. But to the ministers in the hall, the Son of Heaven, returning in triumph with newly expanded territory, radiated even greater authority, so much so that none dared look him squarely in the eye.

Scanning the room, his gaze settled on Feng Dao. Liu Chengyou said: "While I was away from the Eastern Capital, I have troubled you all—holding the rear, managing military and civil affairs, toiling over matters of state, harmonizing yin and yang. You have worked hard, gentlemen! Feng, your temples have gained a few more streaks of white—a sign of exhaustion. It pains my heart!"

"We thank Your Majesty for your concern!" Feng Dao immediately rose and replied respectfully: "Your subjects are deeply trusted by Your Majesty, entrusted with affairs of state. We feel the weight of our responsibility and dare not be negligent or remiss! Now that Your Majesty has returned victorious, our anxious hearts can finally be at ease!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's mouth twitched slightly. He let out a light sigh and said in a clear voice: "This southern campaign mobilized three hundred thousand troops and laborers in total, costing hundreds of millions. Fortunately, the soldiers fought with valor and the ministers planned with wisdom, allowing us to take all of Huainan and bring Jiangdong to submission. One may truly call it a brilliant victory!"

"This is all due to Your Majesty's strategic vision, wise command, and discerning use of talent!" Guo Wei said from below, offering flattery in a steady tone.

With a light laugh, Liu Chengyou said: "Planning far ahead, employing troops to win victories, breaking states and seizing cities, taking lands and winning people—that is how this victory was achieved. How could this be the merit of one man alone? The counsel of civil officials and the bravery of soldiers—neither can be lacking!"

Liu Chengyou was never one to claim all merit for himself, nor did he have any need to contend with his subordinates over credit. With a kind expression, he said to the assembled ministers: "This time, I personally campaigned in Huainan and could devote myself wholly to military affairs, without worries about grain, weapons, or laborers—all those concerns from the rear were resolved by your steady governance!"

Hearing the Emperor speak thus, what else could the ministers in the hall do? They all rose and prostrated themselves, wearing moved expressions, loudly praising Liu Chengyou's wisdom.

After briefly exchanging sentiments between sovereign and subjects, Liu Chengyou's expression grew slightly solemn, and the atmosphere in the hall visibly turned serious, just as it always did when Liu Chengyou held court.

The war had ended not long ago, and though the court had already adjusted from wartime footing and was gradually returning to normal operations, military matters still took precedence. Guo Wei rose first and reported: "The imperial army troops that accompanied the campaign have returned to their camps. Combined with reports from the various armies and subsequent verification, the detailed casualty figures for the imperial army soldiers in this southern campaign have been compiled. I present this memorial to Your Majesty!"

Guo Wei produced a memorial, presented it with both hands, and recited: "In field battles and city assaults, great and small, there were forty-three engagements in total. The imperial army lost 4,375 men killed in action, 267 missing, 1,360 severely wounded, and 5,124 lightly wounded! Among the casualties, 326 were officers of squad leader rank and above!"

Hearing this report, Liu Chengyou could not help but sigh again at the saying "one general's success costs ten thousand bones." He said: "I already know how weak the Southern Tang soldiers are. Even so, after months of fierce fighting, our Han army's elite still suffered over ten thousand casualties—this is no small matter!"

Of course, what Guo Wei reported was only the losses of the imperial army officers and men. The casualties among the laborers conscripted from northern Huainan and Huainan proper were double that. After all, they did all the dirty, bitter, and exhausting work.

Liu Chengyou gave his orders directly.

"As you command!" Guo Wei and Wei Renpu replied in unison: "Your Majesty's care for the soldiers fills us with admiration!"

"The merits of all officers and men in the southern campaign have already been reviewed by the Ministry of War. All 165 individuals of battalion commander rank and above have been fully compiled, with their deeds recorded in detail. Please review them, Your Majesty. The matter of conferring honors and rewards still requires discussion between Your Majesty and the court ministers! For those below battalion commander, separate detailed lists have been prepared, with rewards to be granted according to merit as per regulations. Once verified, they can be issued!" Wei Renpu also produced a memorial and presented it.

Liu Chengyou weighed it in his hand—it was quite substantial. Those that required his personal review were all the merits of senior officers and commanders in the imperial army. Flipping through it briefly, Liu Chengyou said to Wei Renpu, who wore a weary expression: "You have worked hard, Wei. After I have read it, I will issue my response!"

"Yes!"

Weighing the memorial in his hand, Liu Chengyou looked at the assembled ministers and said: "This thick book of merits is filled with soldiers fighting and killing, breaking armies and taking cities. As I said before, you ministers holding the rear, planning and managing, governing the people—these too are great merits. Additionally, the various military governors and prefectural officials who coordinated operations and deployments must not have their labors overlooked!"

"They should also be registered in the records, reported for verification, and the court should grant appropriate commendations and rewards!" Liu Chengyou instructed Feng Dao: "I leave this matter to your handling, Feng!"

"Yes! On behalf of all officials within and without, I thank Your Majesty for your heavenly grace!" Feng Dao said, a note of delight in his voice.

As the one in power, when it came to assigning merits and dividing the spoils, Liu Chengyou naturally would not play favorites. He also wanted to proclaim to the world that he would not forget anyone who had contributed to the nation and the court.

However, this meant the court would have to expend additional funds. One could tell the temperament of Xue Juzheng, the Deputy State Finance Commissioner, from his tightly furrowed brows. But on this matter, he could not voice opposition—if he opened his mouth, he would surely incur the wrath of all.

Since the founding of the Great Han, the state had been struggling against poor finances. Since Liu Chengyou ascended the throne, the situation had grown even more severe. Though they had increased revenue, cut expenditures, and allowed the people to recuperate, it simply could not withstand the turbulence caused by the Son of Heaven, Liu Chengyou. An ambitious ruler—every move he made affected the realm, and what it brought was not necessarily a thousand years of peace and eternal glory...

"Your Majesty, after the southern campaign, the Iron Cavalry, Dragon Swift, Dragon Rest, Xiaodi, Guardian Sacred, and Fengguo cavalry and infantry units all suffered heavy losses, in addition to the troops Your Majesty left stationed in the two Huai regions. The imperial army in the Eastern Capital has been sharply reduced—no longer sufficient to guard the two capitals and the passes of Hua and Chan. Should war break out, there would not be enough troops to dispatch." Guo Wei produced another memorial, presented it, and said:

"After discussion among us, we propose selecting two thousand elite soldiers from the forces under the various military governors, defense commissioners, and militia commissioners to fill out the Eastern Capital's ranks! Among them, five thousand from the Hedong prefectures, three thousand from Weibo, two thousand from Chengde, and the remainder selected from other prefectures and garrisons as appropriate per regulations. Please review this, Your Majesty!"

Taking it, Liu Chengyou examined it carefully, then asked: "Will this affect border defenses?"

The proposal from the Bureau of Military Affairs naturally suited Liu Chengyou's intentions—killing two birds with one stone, strengthening the trunk while weakening the branches. To weaken the regional commands, one must first take their soldiers. However, the Northern Han dynasty had been established for nearly six years, and by now the central authority had been established and was growing increasingly stable. The threat posed by regional military governors to the court was no longer as great as imagined—especially given that Liu Chengyou had just achieved another great accomplishment.

Though he intended to continue strengthening centralization and taking the soldiers from the military governors, he was in no hurry. The other regions were fine, but he had to remain vigilant about the border prefectures' military governors. If local armies were made too weak, would that not give the foreign tribes an opportunity?

Guo Wei then said: "After detailed calculations by the Bureau of Military Affairs, there should be no major problems. With Your Majesty back at court, given the current situation between the Han and the Liao, the northern border defenses can already meet our needs and may even be appropriately reduced with adjusted rotations. The region west of the passes produces many fierce warriors, but due to the Meng Shu situation, their conscription can be deferred. As for the Dingnan Army's Li clan, an edict can be issued for them to contribute brave warriors to fill out the cavalry."

"The ten prefectures of Hedong, though the birthplace of our dynasty, have not seen war since its founding and do not need so many troops. Besides selecting soldiers to enter the capital, the numbers should also be reduced, releasing soldiers back to farming, while strengthening the defenses of Xin, Dai, Fu, and Lin. The rest only need to maintain basic garrison strength..."

"Since the Bureau of Military Affairs has deliberated collectively, I expect there is no concern—proceed as proposed!" After hearing the explanation and pondering briefly, Liu Chengyou said: "However, remember this: this matter should proceed gradually, not hastily. The soldiers selected must be of the finest quality—no padding with incompetents. Issue the edict first!"

"Yes!"

While the decision was being made, Liu Chengyou could not help but cast a few extra glances at Guo Wei.