Chapter 588: Rain, Snow, Ice, and Freezing Rain

A night passed, and within the imperial city, all the halls, pavilions, terraces, palace roads, and corridors were covered with a thin layer of snow. At dawn, the frosty cold pierced through to the bone, and while the sky was still dimly lit, the eunuchs and palace attendants among the chambers still carried brooms, clearing the snow from the palace roads so that palace staff and officials could walk.

By full daylight, the world between heaven and earth was a stretch of white. The various government offices located in the southern part of the imperial city gained some signs of activity as the officials entered the palace. The Hall of State Affairs was situated in Guangzheng Hall, where the chancellors conducted their daily business.

Inside, the brazier sent up smoke, and the incense was pleasant. Feng Dao sat behind his desk, handling official documents. Chancellor Li Tao walked over lightly, holding a green bowl that steamed with heat, and handed it to Feng Dao: "Chancellor Feng!"

Looking up, Feng Dao said: "Xinchen, you and I are both chancellors. For you to personally serve me a cup—how could this old man presume to accept it!"

Li Tao smiled and said: "Lord Feng is a senior and the chief chancellor, with lofty character and reputation—how could you not deserve it!"

Hearing this, Feng Dao stroked his white beard and replied: "Many thanks!"

Taking it, he took a sip, and his expression shifted slightly. He turned his head to look at him: "Why is this wine?"

"The weather is bitterly cold—a small cup to ward off the chill and warm the body!" Li Tao said with a smile.

Looking at Li Tao, Feng Dao could not help but sigh softly: "Xinchen, we conduct business here, managing the affairs of the realm. How can we drink wine? If state affairs are delayed, how could we bear the responsibility? Moreover, if word gets out, it would not sound good either!"

With that, he handed the wine cup back to Li Tao: "Dispose of it quickly!"

Seeing this, Li Tao said: "Chancellor Feng, you are simply too cautious and proper. It's just a cup of light wine..."

Feng Dao shook his head and said no more, handing Li Tao an edict: "Take a look—this edict just arrived from Chongzheng Hall."

Hearing this, Li Tao's expression immediately turned solemn. He took it and read softly: "The office of prefectural governor is entrusted with no light responsibility; since the duty of sharing the realm's concerns is the same, the amount of salary should be equal. Previously, there were prosperous commanderies whose stipends were generous, while some border prefectures had always thin salaries. Thus at the time of transfer and promotion, deliberations were also difficult—weighing both the seniority of rank and worrying over the rise and fall of emoluments. It is fitting to take from the many to supplement the few, to equalize benefits and share grace alike, hoping for neither partisanship nor bias, so as to encourage meritorious service..."

After pondering the meaning of the edict for a moment, Li Tao tugged at his beard and said: "His Majesty's edict—he wishes to redetermine the salaries and grain stipends of local officials!"

Feng Dao nodded and said: "Indeed! The salaries and titles of court officials, and the pay of the military, have already been fixed. The salaries of local officials truly ought to be put on the agenda as well. As the edict says, the circuits and prefectures of the realm differ in wealth and poverty, in quality and inferiority. For the sake of fairness, those who hold the same office of prefectural governor should naturally have their salaries fixed according to rank!"

"In this way, the court's influence and control over the localities will be strengthened again—this can work in tandem with the fiscal reform!" Li Tao's face showed contemplation as he said: "However, this matter is not easy either. As for the circuits and prefectures under the Great Han, prefectures and provinces stand side by side, military governors still exist, and with surveillance, defense, and militia commissioners layered on top—how to unify and regulate such a mix requires careful consideration!"

"We can only decide according to circumstances!" Feng Dao considered for a while: "Let us first discuss it and draft an initial proposal to present to His Majesty!"

"For matters of salary, the State Finance Commission must participate—summon Xue Juzheng!" Li Tao said.

"Mm!" Feng Dao nodded: "When Chancellor Fan returns, include him as well!"

Nodding, Li Tao could not help but smile: "I'm afraid there will be no shortage of disputes again, and this subordinate will have to expend much breath!"

Feng Dao said: "We all work for the court's affairs. A few disputes are only normal. As His Majesty says, seek common ground while reserving differences!"

"Sitting for so long, my hands and feet have gone numb. This winter is bitterly cold—I only hope it passes quickly!" Inside Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou set down his imperial brush, rubbed his somewhat stiff hands, and remarked with feeling.

Glancing at the open doors and windows, through which the cold draft kept pouring in, he instructed: "Close all the doors and windows!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun personally went up to arrange it.

Two braziers were set up in the hall. With the doors and windows open, one feared the cold; with them closed for long, one feared the stuffiness. Liu Chengyou felt that his constitution was increasingly averse to heat and afraid of cold.

"Is it snowing again outside?" Liu Chengyou asked, able to faintly hear the rustling sounds from beyond the hall.

"To answer Your Majesty, yes—light snow mixed with rain!" Zhang Dejun replied.

"Of late, rain and snow have continued unabated for days. Rain that freezes into ice—I fear it may become frost damage! Even I find it hard to endure the hardship, let alone the common people!" Liu Chengyou sighed.

A trace of melancholy crept into Liu Chengyou's tone—of course, this was his daily habit, but at this moment, only a few close attendants were in the hall, with no outsiders present.

However, as the eunuch closest to the Emperor's heart, Zhang Dejun was quick-witted enough to chime in with flattery: "Though Your Majesty resides in the palace, you constantly keep the people's suffering and warmth and cold in mind. A sage ruler such as this is the blessing of all the realm's subjects!"

"Moreover, Your Majesty's grace and authority extend throughout the realm. The edicts previously sent to all circuits, prefectures, and provinces—the local governments, having received Your Majesty's admonitions, will naturally care for the people and prepare against frost damage!"

"You certainly know how to speak! And you know how to reason. I hear you read books in your spare time—it seems you have come to understand quite a few principles!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou said flatly.

At these words, Zhang Dejun lowered himself slightly, hands clasped before his belly, and said respectfully: "Having served Your Majesty for so long and often receiving your instruction, even this humble one, dull as he is, must have gained something."

Tilting his head to look at Zhang Dejun, Liu Chengyou appraised him. He was accustomed to his humility and caution—all the result of Liu Chengyou's occasional warnings and intimidation. There were many eunuchs in the palace, including some old retainers from the Jinyang days, but the one who put Liu Chengyou most at ease was still this Zhang Dejun.

Toward this man, Liu Chengyou occasionally entertained the thought of giving him greater responsibility and entrusting him with important posts, but he had always hesitated, slightly fearing the disaster of eunuch power. Of course, more importantly, he still needed to observe him further.

The gaze of the Son of Heaven always made one uneasy. Facing Liu Chengyou's scrutiny, Zhang Dejun's face remained as deferential as ever, betraying nothing unusual—only his waist bent a little lower.

Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou walked into the side hall, where Li Fang was leading three Chongzheng scholars in organizing memorials. Seeing the Son of Heaven, they hurriedly rose to pay their respects.

"Go on with your work!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand, looking at the memorial in Li Fang's hands.

Seeing this, Li Fang presented it to Liu Chengyou: "A submission from the Censorate—the list of censors for the young lords' offices. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Liu Chengyou took it and scanned through it, then said casually: "The quotas for circuit inspectors are not yet filled!"

Li Fang replied: "In the past two years, the Censorate has sent many censors to the localities, and with court officials also serving as prefectural administrators and county magistrates, personnel have been reduced without being replenished. Thus, after the reorganization into the Censorate, the various posts could not be filled all at once!"

Nodding, Liu Chengyou looked at Li Fang and said: "Mingyuan, though you are young, your reputation among the younger scholars is not low. Here is what I want: select some talented men from the Hanlin Academy and the various ministries on my behalf to fill out the Censorate. Zhao Li has just taken charge, reorganizing the censorial offices and overseeing inspection and law enforcement—that is already no easy task. On the personnel front, I must share some of his burden..."

Hearing this, Li Fang could not help but show hesitation on his face. He clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, your servant's words carry little weight. What virtue or ability do I have to preside over such a matter? Chancellor Li of the Ministry of Personnel could be tasked with the selection and assignment!"

"I want to use young men!" Liu Chengyou stared at Li Fang with piercing eyes.

Li Fang opened his mouth, silently pondering the Emperor's intentions, keeping a solemn expression as he replied: "Your servant will do his utmost!"

"How long have you been by my side?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Li Fang answered with restraint: "To answer Your Majesty, one year and three months!"

"That is not a short time!" Liu Chengyou murmured.

Li Fang had been the top scholar of the fourth year of Qianyou. After entering court service, he had been appointed to serve before the throne as a close minister of the Son of Heaven—humble in rank but heavy in responsibility. In his daily work, he handled matters of military and state, national secrets. Add to that his experience accompanying the campaign against Huainan—not to mention his résumé, but his horizons and knowledge had both broadened considerably. In Liu Chengyou's view, he had essentially been tempered and trained.

And before the throne, there was no room for further advancement in a short time. Therefore, Liu Chengyou had the intention, following the precedent of Wang Qiwu, to send him out to gain experience—he just had not yet decided what post to assign.

"By the way, have you finished writing your *Account of the Southern Expedition*?" Liu Chengyou suddenly asked in a leisurely mood.

Li Fang clasped his hands: "Your servant has written five volumes, now complete—only the preface and introduction remain. If Your Majesty wishes to read it, your servant can fetch it!"

"Good!" Liu Chengyou smiled: "I have long wanted to read your great work!"

Braving the rain and snow as he walked through the palace corridor, feeling the biting chill, Li Fang could not help but murmur: "His Majesty seems to want to send me out to the provinces..."