Chapter 516: Holding Court at Chongzheng Hall (3)

"How is the selection and transfer of officials for the two Huainan circuits progressing?" Liu Chengyou looked toward Feng Dao.

"For the county and prefecture level clerks, we have already selected over a hundred men from among the meritorious officials of the two capitals and the nearby regions, and they have successively taken up their posts. Together with the Tang officials we have accepted, they can satisfy the needs of governance! Having just surrendered, they will surely serve with utmost dedication to win our trust!" Feng Dao said. "Additionally, we ministers have jointly discussed selecting capable officers and clerks from the local prefectures and garrisons to be transferred to the two Huainan circuits!"

"This proposal is good! Most agreeable!" Liu Chengyou's mind turned only once before a smile appeared on his face. He said, "However, Huainan is newly conquered territory; its administrative system is not yet consolidated, and the people's hearts are not yet attached. We need good officials to govern it well and transform it into Han territory. Though the officials selected are not of high rank, they are the foundation of our dynasty's rule in Huainan and must be given due attention!"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty!" Feng Dao reported. "Those we select will be chosen according to their abilities; all have experience in administrative affairs in the various bureaus, offices, prefectures, and counties, and in the annual evaluations, they have all received ratings of middle-upper or above..."

Liu Chengyou did not fully believe Feng Dao's words. The realm had never lacked talented men, but the Great Han did not yet have so many administrative talents as all that. However, he did not expose this, nor could he demand that every official dispatched to Huainan be a capable minister. As Emperor, he only needed to consider the overall situation; even if there were some personal favors or those who merely filled a post, as long as it remained within controllable bounds and did not harm the greater picture, it was acceptable.

"Additionally, regarding the new circuit and prefecture system Your Majesty has established, the court ministers have deliberated and considered it thoroughly. We propose that under the two offices of Administration and Surveillance, additional assistant official posts be established to construct the bureaucratic structure for governing circuit affairs." Feng Dao said.

"That is only natural!" Liu Chengyou nodded directly in agreement and said, "The affairs of a circuit are numerous and complex; I would not wish our ministers to be overburdened. Regarding the circuit and prefecture official system, you gentlemen, together with the learned scholars of the Three Institutes, should deliberate and finalize the regulations as soon as possible, and draft a memorial. The military and civil administrative systems of the two Huainan circuits must be completed as quickly as possible, and the appointments of officials at all levels must also be implemented without delay!"

"Yes!" Feng Dao acknowledged, his old face relaxing. He then respectfully suggested to Liu Chengyou: "Furthermore, since the end of the Tang, the various circuits, prefectures, and counties have suffered war and repeatedly fallen to the ravages of soldiers, flourishing and declining unevenly, until the realm collapsed. The old systems are outdated and can no longer satisfy the needs of governing the state in the present day. This old minister believes that the new Huainan system may be temporarily implemented on a trial basis in the two circuits to observe its results, identify gaps and correct deficiencies, and once perfected, gradually extend it to the entire realm. This also provides an opportunity to comprehensively demarcate borders and clarify the cities and towns!"

Liu Chengyou raised an eyebrow slightly, tilted his head, and fixed his gaze on this old minister Feng Dao for a moment before saying, "Lord Feng's vision is far-reaching, but there is no hurry at this time. Once the civil administration in Huainan is properly settled, we can make further plans!"

Feng Dao raised no objection, merely offering a respectful bow. It was evident that, much like Guo Wei, Feng Dao's proposal was also a kind of "pledge of loyalty" offered to Liu Chengyou, spoken entirely in accordance with the Emperor's wishes.

"Your Majesty!" Chancellor Li Tao seized the opportunity to rise and report: "The government offices of the fourteen prefectures and counties of Huainan have, in accordance with the edict, submitted their registers of fields, forests, and adult population to the Eastern Capital. After our compilation, during the time of the Tang, the registered adult population of the Huainan prefectures numbered fully over two million eight hundred thousand.

However, this is merely a tally based on old records and is not accurate. This southern campaign inevitably saw those who fled or perished in the fighting. Even so, by our estimates, the adult population of the various prefectures still exceeds two million five hundred thousand. If hidden households, private slaves, and Buddhist monks and nuns are added, the number would rise further."

"The precise population registers will still need to be carefully enumerated by the prefecture and county offices once the situation stabilizes, compiled into records, and reported to the court!" Li Tao said, beaming with joy. "But regardless, our dynasty gains nearly four hundred thousand more households, and the realm's total adult population finally exceeds ten million — the greatest in the world!"

This was what delighted Liu Chengyou most. The importance of population needed no elaboration. After Liu Chengyou had issued several edicts to audit households and sent envoys to verify, though concealment and underreporting still inevitably occurred, the Northern Han's population stood at approximately one million two hundred fifty thousand households, with an adult population of under ten million.

And this was the result of several years of nurturing after Liu Chengyou had accepted a large number of refugees from Youyan, swiftly pacified internal unrest, eliminated bandits and brigands, and brought peace to the state. Otherwise, the numbers would have been even lower.

For the Northern Han court, the conquest of Huainan brought no small haul of money, grain, and goods, but those nearly three million adult population were the greatest wealth and harvest. Once the assimilation and reorganization were complete, the Northern Han's national strength would inevitably surge.

Viewed from another angle, the Great Han dynasty, which occupied most of the circuits and prefectures of the north, governed an adult population of only ten million — the sparsity of its population relative to its vast territory could well be imagined.

"The central government must draft a policy encouraging the people to bear children!" Liu Chengyou paced a few steps before the assembled ministers and instructed: "For the next twenty years, in the evaluations of Han officials, the triennial grand assessment shall take population growth as a reference criterion!"

Feng Dao and the others exchanged glances, then bowed in acknowledgment.

Regarding policies to encourage population growth and childbirth, Liu Chengyou had considered them before. It was only that in the early days of his reign, with a hundred things awaiting restoration, there had not been sufficient conditions for implementation.

First, the state's finances were needed for maintaining the army, supporting officials, guarding the borders, and defending against enemies — matters of consolidating state power. Second, having suffered repeated wars, the people's hearts were not yet settled, the territories not yet pacified, and the common folk were impoverished; for ordinary commoners, bearing and raising more children was merely a burden. Third, there was the question of administrative execution — in the early years of the state, the court's influence over the localities was too weak, its authority not yet consolidated, making implementation difficult.

Now, however, conditions were ripe from every perspective. Liu Chengyou set a period of twenty years, though he was somewhat uncertain of the rate of population growth under such stimulation. For a feudal empire, the contradiction between population and land was worth heeding, and policies should be adapted to circumstances. But for now, the people could be encouraged to bear and raise children freely.

Unconsciously, the night grew deep. Liu Chengyou clearly noticed that the assembled ministers in the hall all showed varying degrees of fatigue. Liu Chengyou, after a full day of exertion, was also quite weary.

The mealtime had already passed. Liu Chengyou had a family banquet to fill his stomach and felt fine, but these capable ministers were likely still empty-bellied. Liu Chengyou directly turned his head and instructed Zhang Dejun: "Go, order the kitchens to prepare a meal, make it sumptuous, and let the gentlemen dine before leaving the palace!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun acknowledged and went off with considerable alacrity.

Facing the Son of Heaven's gracious gift of food, Feng Dao and the others all rose together to bow in thanks.

Next, Liu Chengyou inquired further into the situation within the Eastern Capital. Time passed swiftly amid the questions and reports, and by the time a palace eunuch announced that the meal was ready, Liu Chengyou himself could hardly sit still.

"Let us conclude here for today! Gentlemen, go and dine!" He rose again, waved his hand, and looked around the hall before instructing: "Transmit the edict: the day after tomorrow, I shall personally go to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices, announcing the achievement of taking Huainan. At nightfall, a meritorious banquet shall be held at Chongyuan Hall; all civil and military meritorious officials of the Eastern Capital of the fifth rank and above may attend!"

"Yes!"

After the ministers had filed out one by one, Liu Chengyou paced for a while before the great map of the Han realm. His eyes were clear and bright, a smile slowly spreading across his lips, and then he burst into laughter — laughing most heartily.

The sudden laughter startled the palace eunuchs attending in the hall. Each one bowed their head and stood in cautious deference, yet could not help stealing glances toward the Emperor.

Zhang Dejun stepped forward and asked carefully: "Your Majesty, so delighted — might there be some happy tidings?"

"What do you think?" Liu Chengyou withdrew his smile, turned around, and asked him.

Facing the Son of Heaven's gaze, Zhang Dejun gave a humble smile and replied deferentially: "Your Majesty's thoughts are as vast as the sea; how could this humble one presume to guess them? It is only that when Your Majesty is pleased, we lowly ones cannot help but feel joy as well!"

Liu Chengyou seemed quite satisfied with Zhang Dejun's answer and grinned again. Slowly walking out of the hall doors, he let the slightly cold night breeze wash over him, raised his head to gaze at the starry sky. At this moment, he felt a sense that though heaven and earth were vast, he could roam freely through them — his entire state of mind elevated considerably.

At this time, Zhang Dejun sidled up beside him and posed a question that was both practical and somewhat difficult to decide: "Your Majesty, which hall shall you lodge in tonight?"

Of course, without much deliberation, Liu Chengyou let out a breath and said: "Prepare the carriage for Kunming Hall!"