Chapter 613: Relinquishing Power Over a Cup of Wine

"...... That is what happened. Through Commander-in-Chief He's mediation, the dispute between Generals Li and Ma was finally settled, each yielding a step before entering the city. The northern generals are now quartered separately in the guest lodges, awaiting an audience!" Inside Chongzheng Hall, Zhao Yan reported the little episode before the walls of Kaifeng to Liu Chengyou.

"Ha!" Liu Chengyou's reaction was fairly calm, and in a joking tone he said to Zhao Yan: "Sending you to receive them — you were fortunate enough to watch such a fine show!"

Unsure how to read the Emperor's attitude toward this, Zhao Yan clasped his hands and replied: "The Army Commanders have long served in the ranks, and their tempers are fierce; some conflict between them is understandable!"

Liu Chengyou said coldly: "It is a rare visit to the Eastern Capital, and they shout their quarrels at the very foot of the imperial capital, hurling insults and abuse, attacking each other, drawing a crowd of onlookers — is there any dignity left for the generals of the Great Han? Are they letting the gentry and commoners of the Eastern Capital admire their arrogance and high-handedness?

Had He Fujin not stopped them, would the two of them have drawn their blades and let the crowd witness their valor as well?"

"Li Yun has grown ever more arrogant over these years! Even through the walls of Kaifeng, I can feel it — arriving fresh here, his mouth full of complaints, his heart full of resentment. What does he want, to show defiance to the court? To show grievance to Me?" Liu Chengyou laughed as he spoke, a sneering laugh: "Ma Quanyi has been guarding the frontier all these years, and his temper has grown along with him!"

Seeing Liu Chengyou in this state of fury, Zhao Yan hurriedly bowed and urged: "Your Majesty, calm your wrath!"

In truth, there was no great change on Liu Chengyou's face; it was only his tone and words that made one uneasy. After a moment of silent deliberation, he sighed faintly: "Since the end of the Tang, these arrogant soldiers and ungovernable generals have been a problem every dynasty and every sovereign has found hard to avoid. Zhao Yan, tell Me — how should I govern them?"

Faced with such a great question thrown at him by the Emperor, Zhao Yan was momentarily stunned. Seeing that he seemed angry yet not angry, he thought for a moment and said carefully: "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have reorganized the army and reformed its institutions, sweeping away the abuses of previous dynasties; the unwholesome practices in the military have already been greatly cleansed. Generals Li and Ma have long guarded the frontier, unlike the imperial army, which is constantly influenced and instructed by Your Majesty; they retain the bad habits of former times, and their words and deeds are somewhat unrestrained — that is hardly surprising. And Army Commander Ma, raised up by Your Majesty's favor, is a trusted stalwart; this time he spoke out to defend Your Majesty and the court. Though his reaction was intense, it does reveal a measure of loyalty......"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou looked at Zhao Yan with slight surprise: "Those words of yours are quite fair-minded!"

"Your Majesty, should the northern frontier generals be summoned for audience first?" Zhao Yan requested.

"No need!" Liu Chengyou ordered directly without a second thought: "Tomorrow is the Jiaqing Festival; gather the Military Governors, Defense Commissioners, and Army Commanders who have come to the capital at Wansui Hall to attend the imperial banquet!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Yan withdrew, and Liu Chengyou silently pondered, murmuring softly: "Li Yun......"

As for Li Yun — he had served as a general under the Tang and the Jin, skilled in horsemanship and archery, possessed of great strength, and gifted with commanding ability. After the Battle of Luancheng that year, he led his troops to submit to Liu Chengyou and was appointed General. Since the founding of the state, he had been guarding the northern frontier.

However, the man's temperament was a serious problem — irascible, quick to anger, heavy-handed in killing, and narrow-minded. Proud of his ability and seniority, he harbored considerable resentment over years of northern garrison duty without promotion.

Back when the northern defenses were being readjusted, he had wanted to contend for the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Front, but Liu Chengyou favored the veteran general He Fujin — and from that time on, he had been dissatisfied.

And as time passed, as the Great Han wielded its arms in the west and south, a host of younger talents rose in the army and were vigorously promoted. When Li Yun heard of this in the north, his heart grew even more unbalanced. But now, across all the lands of the Great Han, he, Li Yun, counted only as an ordinary Army Commander.

In Li Yun's view, this was the Emperor and the court treating him shabbily, ignoring their merits in guarding the frontier. In fact, given how much importance Liu Chengyou placed on the northern border defenses, how could he possibly treat the officers and men shabbily? Strict in military law, he had always been caring and protective at the same time.

As for Li Yun — though he had not been promoted, he had received added honors, noble rank, and emoluments. After all, there was no war on the northern front, and one could hardly elevate him arbitrarily. But Li Yun did not understand — or rather, was not satisfied — so much so that his resentment was something Liu Chengyou heard of regularly even in the Eastern Capital.

Therefore, regarding his behavior outside the walls of Kaifeng today, though Liu Chengyou was displeased, he was not overly surprised. It only strengthened his resolve to take this opportunity to transfer him away from the north — if Li Yun were allowed to keep commanding troops, problems would arise sooner or later.

The seventh day of the third month was the birthday of the Han Son of Heaven, Liu Chengyou, designated the Jiaqing Festival. The seventh year of Qianyou was Liu Chengyou's zodiac year — he was twenty-four years old.

This imperial birthday made a considerable stir on the surface, but the actual observance was very simple: only at Chongyuan Hall, taking advantage of the grand court assembly, did he receive the homage of the civil and military ministers from within and without, listen to their congratulatory addresses, and accept no gifts at all.

And the sole imperial banquet was only for entertaining the out-of-capital ministers who had come to the capital. Thus, from the very start, the imperial banquet at Wansui Hall carried an unusual atmosphere.

In the evening, at Wansui Hall of the Han palace, food tables were set out in neat rows, and nearly twenty generals and ministers who had come to the capital were already seated. Ritual music and dance had begun, and the court's soft, beguiling melodies were intoxicating.

Li Yun was among them, drinking wine and eating meat, loudly praising the delicacy of the court's cuisine. But once the wine went to his head, he could no longer hold his tongue, and muttered despite himself: "To congratulate the Son of Heaven on his birthday, they recall all the frontier generals — if something happens in the north, and the barbarian hordes invade from the south, how will we resist?"

He swept his gaze around the hall a few times, looked toward the imperial table, and saw it empty — Liu Chengyou's figure still nowhere in sight — and said again: "We generals and ministers have all gathered and waited a long while — where is His Majesty?"

"Li Yun, shut your mouth!" Hearing this, the old marshal He Fujin beside him immediately barked a reprimand, his face full of fury, white hair bristling, his aged eyes brimming with displeasure.

Li Yun was startled at first, then smiled: "What's the matter, Commander-in-Chief? This is in the palace hall, not in the army — so don't be giving me orders!"

"You! You know full well this is the imperial palace — how dare you carry on so wildly and insolently!" He Fujin's fury grew even greater. Perhaps he was too agitated, for his face flushed red and he coughed heavily several times.

After all, Li Yun was his subordinate, under his command. Such impropriety on his part also put him in an awkward position.

Seeing this, Li Yun raised an eyebrow, somewhat reining in his arrogance, and said to him: "Commander-in-Chief He is advanced in years and not in good health — don't quibble with me. Anger harms the body! If it worsens your illness, I couldn't bear the responsibility!"

"You!" He Fujin was instantly furious, his aged face trembling several times, and for a moment he could not find words.

"His Majesty arrives!" It was a sonorous announcement that broke the atmosphere in the hall.

Everyone rose to greet him, including Li Yun — arrogant before others, but when truly facing Liu Chengyou, he still lowered his brows and bowed in proper, orderly fashion.

"Haha!" Liu Chengyou's voice arrived before his person, and upon entering he waved his hand: "Ministers, no need for ceremony!"

After taking his seat, Liu Chengyou looked around the hall, a smile still playing at the corners of his mouth: "The Noble Consort has given Me a little princess, which delayed Me some time — I have kept you all waiting!"

With these words, the reason for the Emperor's lateness was explained, and at once another wave of congratulations arose.

Li Hongwei, Military Governor of Pinglu, rose with cup in hand, his face full of smiles, and said in a loud voice: "Today is His Majesty's birthday, and the rear palace has given birth to a princess — a double blessing at the door! Gentlemen, let us all drink to His Majesty!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The imperial banquet entered its climax after Liu Chengyou's arrival, the atmosphere heated. At his behest, everyone cast off restraint, passing cups and exchanging goblets, merry as could be.

When the atmosphere was at its most intense, Liu Chengyou gave a light cough, rose, and walked to the center of the hall, where he delivered a heartfelt speech: "All of you, ministers, are the pillars of the Great Han, generals and ministers who hold up the state, guarding the regions for the country with diligence and toil, with great merit and labor. Ordinarily you are far from the capital and seldom gather with Me, and I miss you greatly. Today, taking advantage of My birthday, I have summoned you here so we may all gather together, to honor the bond between sovereign and minister. None of you need be constrained — drink freely, and we must not part until we have enjoyed ourselves to the full!"

"We thank Your Majesty!" Another round of courteous responses followed.

Liu Chengyou drained a cup of wine, and a palace eunuch hurriedly refilled it. After a moment's deliberation, with the smile still on his face, Liu Chengyou said: "However, over these years, you have all borne heavy burdens, with the affairs of state pressing and numerous, and have labored greatly. I hear that not a few of you have worn yourselves into illness because of it. Causing you all to toil to such a degree is truly not My intention. When I think of it, I cannot bear it. Therefore, I have a mind to grant you all a kindness — to lighten some of the burdens you carry......"

The moment these words fell, Liu Chengyou watched the reactions of all present, and Wansui Hall gradually grew quiet. Faces varied — some calm, some startled, some grave......

Clearly, the birthday congratulations were secondary; these words of the Son of Heaven were the true purpose for which they had been summoned to the capital.

Liu Chengyou, under the pretext of celebrating his birthday, had brought the Military Governors, Defense Commissioners, and Army Commanders of various regions into the capital — his purpose was, of course, not simple. This was the last time he would strip military provinces of their authority on a large scale, gathering it under central control.

The wine cup in Liu Chengyou's hand was still held aloft.