Chapter 599: Civil and Military Officials at Yedu

Yedu, Daming Prefecture, Yuancheng.

This was now the most important city of the Great Han in Hebei, integrating politics, military, and economy into one, serving as the Great Han's hub in Hebei, highly valued by the Son of Heaven and the court.

Liu Chengyou's tour this time was a matter of whim—inspecting key affairs, observing the people's condition, but of course the main purpose was still to look around, and incidentally to make contact with the Hebei generals and officials, to foster some goodwill.

In Yuancheng, the highest in status were the Acting Military Governor Guo Congyi, Hebei Fiscal Commissioner Li Gu, and Daming Prefect Li Huan.

Li Huan was the younger brother of Chief Minister Li Tao. He was intelligent and quick-witted, skilled in literature, and had been in office for just over a year. Originally a famous literary talent and Academician at court, examining his record, his experience in governance and managing the people, Liu Chengyou had initially held reservations about entrusting him with the heavy responsibility of Governor of Daming. However, if only to give Li Tao face, and since Li Huan's appointment was also a normal transfer, and it conformed to his policy of "civil officials as Prefectural Administrators," he agreed, to observe his subsequent performance.

Judging from Li Huan's performance since taking office, although he had no outstanding achievements, he also had no misrule, and his official reputation was good. Under his governance, Daming Prefecture developed in a normal manner.

Therefore, upon arriving in Yuancheng, Liu Chengyou still offered words of encouragement to Li Huan. The Son of Heaven's attitude finally let Li Huan set down the burden in his heart. Perhaps Liu Chengyou's "lack of confidence" in him had been too obvious at first, causing him some unease after taking office...

As for the garrison troops at Yedu, apart from the original Tianxiong Army, the main defensive force was still primarily the imperial army, with a full division of the Imperial Guard Xingjie Army stationed here.

As usual, the Son of Heaven personally visited the military camp, reviewed the troops, observed drills, gave a speech, and proclaimed His Majesty the Emperor's grace and authority. Incidentally, he also had the Longqi imperial guards accompanying him engage in a "friendly exchange" with the Daming garrison.

Under the spring sun, the breeze was pleasant, banners fluttered, and on the drill ground, a temporary polo field had been set up. Two teams, one in black and one in white, competed in polo on it, with surrounding soldiers watching and cheering continuously—an exceptionally lively scene.

The black team was the Eastern Capital imperial army, led by Gao Huaide, while the white team was led by Yedu Acting Military Governor Guo Congyi. This gentleman, seeing the sport, was eager to join, personally taking the field to display his polo skills.

On the reviewing platform, Liu Chengyou sat behind a table, watching the match in the field with great interest. Beside him, Pure Consort Zhou, who had accompanied him on this tour, was playing the pipa in accompaniment, the strings ringing sharply, rising and falling—quite fitting the tense atmosphere on the field.

Since entering the palace, the young Lady Zhou had come to understand what "the palace gates are deep as the sea" meant. After that brief period of favor with the Emperor, he had almost forgotten her entirely. It was very rare that he had just now graced her with his presence. The young lady often sat alone in her chambers, applying powder and rouge with no one to appreciate her, lying alone on her pillow at night, often feeling lonely. Every day, she accompanied herself only with zither strings and poetry books, composing lyrics and practicing dance, to while away the time and dispel her sorrows.

The only fortunate thing, perhaps, was that the palace intrigues in the Han palace had not touched her. The Empress, the Noble Consort, and the others had not paid much mind to this "new favorite" who had lost the Emperor's interest.

This time, when the Emperor went on tour, he did not bring the other four consorts, but singled her out alone. After these days of serving before the sovereign, having been nourished somewhat, Pure Consort Zhou's worried expression had eased somewhat, but the "pitiable" melancholic temperament cultivated on her jade-like face was ever more pronounced, ever more moving.

The civil and military officials present were either immersed in the music or focused on the contest on the drill ground. Liu Chengyou pointed at Guo Congyi and said to Li Gu, who sat in the seat of honor beside him: "I had long heard that Guo Congyi excels at polo. Having seen it today, indeed!"

Following his gaze, one could see Guo Congyi in the field, in fitted garments astride his horse, galloping freely, chasing the round ball, circling and striking it, with agile movements and skilled technique, fully displaying the artistry of polo.

Hearing this, Li Gu smiled lightly and replied: "General Guo possesses considerable military strategy, and what is commendable is that he bears refined skills. To have such bearing is also rare!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou smiled faintly, looked at Li Gu, shifted his attention to him, and asked with concern: "Minister Li, how is your shoulder injury?"

It was from earlier, when Li Gu was inspecting the transport of grain and weapons in the north, that he had fallen from his horse and injured his shoulder—quite seriously. When Liu Chengyou heard of it in the Eastern Capital, he specially issued an edict of grace allowing him to rest and recuperate. However, because Hebei had many troubles last winter, Li Gu had not fully recovered before he returned to manage affairs despite his illness, and Liu Chengyou appreciated him all the more for it.

At this moment, hearing the Son of Heaven inquire, Li Gu subconsciously twisted his shoulder and thanked him: "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern, it is already much better!"

"Much better?" Liu Chengyou appeared very attentive, saying: "Then it is not yet fully healed! In that case, I will have the imperial physician examine you. Though state affairs are important, if I let you exhaust your body and leave lasting ailments, that would not be my wish!"

Hearing the Son of Heaven say this, Li Gu could not help but show a moved expression, bowing: "Your Majesty's grace, your minister is grateful to the depths of his heart and will never dare forget it!"

Li Gu was someone Liu Chengyou had come to know when he led his army east out of the Taihang Mountains, after the Battle of Luancheng. At that time, he had discovered that this gentleman possessed considerable administrative talent, and had him assist in coordinating military and civil affairs, helping him pacify the soldiers and people.

Later, when Liu Chengyou received the edict to go south to the Eastern Capital, he specifically left Li Gu behind to assist the then Military Governor Zhang Yanwei in managing government affairs. From acting Prefect of Hengzhou, to Surveillance Commissioner... all the way to his current position as Hebei Fiscal Commissioner, he had been successively promoted to key posts and entrusted with important responsibilities. Li Gu had rendered great service in the recovery and development of the Heng, Shen, Ji, and Zhao regions.

Over the years, although he had kept him in Hebei, Liu Chengyou's trust and regard for Li Gu were in no way less than for the chancellors at court. After all, one can know a person's talent and virtue by observing their conduct, and Li Gu, through his many years of diligent service to the royal cause, had won the Emperor's trust and respect.

"Now, Minister Li is the great steward of all Hebei—all grain, money, taxes, and levies, I can entrust entirely to your hands! The supply of grain and weapons to the various armies in the north without shortage all relies on your ability. There are still many places where I need to rely on and depend on Minister Li, and therefore, you must take good care of your health!" Liu Chengyou added, his face full of smiles, his manner exceptionally gentle.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Looking at Li Gu, Liu Chengyou was in high spirits for conversation, bringing up an anecdote about Li Gu: "I hear that when Minister Li was young, you were on good terms with the Southern Tang minister Han Xizai, and between the two of you, a tale of friendship has been passed down. Hearing of it, I am most interested!"

Upon the question, Li Gu stroked his beard, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes, and said with a light laugh: "Back then, when Emperor Mingzong of Tang pacified the rebellion and took control of the Central Plains, Qingzhou refused to obey orders and rebelled. Han Xizai's father was implicated, and Han Xizai was forced to flee the Central Plains. Your minister is a man of Ruyin. He crossed the Huai River at Zhengyang Ferry to defect to the Wu state, and I went to see him off.

Han Xizai said to me, if Jiangdong makes me chancellor, I will drive straight ahead to pacify the Central Plains. I replied, if the Central Plains makes me chancellor, taking Jiangnan will be like reaching into a bag. The past is still vivid before my eyes, yet over twenty years have already passed. The ambition of those days is no more; thinking of it, I cannot help but sigh, cannot help but feel deeply moved!"

"Indeed, worthy of being a tale passed down through the ages!" Liu Chengyou said with sparkling smiles: "Han Xizai has served in Jiangnan for over twenty years, and only now has he become chancellor of that state—yet he has not found the right master, and has lost the right time.

When we campaigned against Tang the year before last, I had intended to transfer you to serve at the front, but because of the Khitan threat, the supply and mobilization of Hebei's military provisions could not do without you, so I abandoned the idea!"

"However, to fulfill Minister Li's ambition of those days, I can entrust a great army to your command, to take the lands of Jiangdong for me!" Liu Chengyou looked at Li Gu and directly promised.

Hearing this, Li Gu's spirits soared, and he immediately rose and bowed prostrate: "Receiving Your Majesty's trust, if this comes to pass, I will surely capture the sovereign and ministers of Jinling and present them at the Eastern Capital!"

In Li Gu's confident tone carried a measure of bold spirit and a measure of emotion.

While the sovereign and minister, Liu Chengyou and Li Gu, were conversing, another burst of cheers erupted from the drill ground—it was Guo Congyi executing a high-difficulty goal, striking the ring in one shot.

Liu Chengyou ordered someone to summon Guo Congyi to the platform and bestowed wine and food upon him. Guo Congyi appeared very delighted, his face full of joy, almost smiling wrinkles into his face, repeatedly exclaiming how satisfying it was.

After being granted a seat, Liu Chengyou looked at him with a calm gaze and a level tone, saying: "Minister Guo's polo skill is exquisite, famous far and wide. Having witnessed it with my own eyes today, it is indeed marvelous—galloping on horseback, no less than the finest warriors of the army. However, now that you have risen to the rank of general and bear the responsibility of guarding a region, you must not indulge in it excessively..."

Hearing the Emperor say this, Guo Congyi's smile faded, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his face. He rose and respectfully acknowledged the instruction. Li Gu, standing by, looked at the Emperor, then at Guo Congyi, and lightly nodded.

Guo Congyi was not an ordinary military man; he was a cultured general, multi-talented, skilled in calligraphy, especially excelling in "flying white" script. In daily life, he had many refined interests, investing too much energy in the "arts," while showing little enthusiasm for governance and military affairs.

During his tenure as Military Governor of Huazhou, his handling of affairs had many shortcomings, and after arriving at Yedu, there was not much improvement, leading to much negligence in the affairs under his charge. Hence Liu Chengyou's admonishment.

Of course, it was also possible that Guo Congyi's behavior was a way of concealing his abilities, after all, given the Great Han's current development trajectory, the living space for regional military governors and powerful generals was growing ever smaller.

Wise men know to prepare for the future...