Chapter 635: Commandery Prince Murong

In the autumn of the seventh year of Qianyou, with the season's tail end remaining, both within and beyond the Eastern Capital, beneath the bleak autumn winds, the bustle of the marketplace could not be concealed. Spanning two years in total, the new inner and outer walls of Kaifeng had finally been repaired and reconstructed, appearing entirely renewed within and without. In all, seventy thousand laborers were conscripted, and funds and grain drawn from the state treasury and raised from the populace numbered in the millions.

The newly built Kaifeng city could accommodate a population of seven hundred thousand, essentially breaking down the original boundaries between wards and markets, offering convenience to both scholars and commoners alike, and injecting a potent stimulant into the sustained commercial prosperity of the Eastern Capital.

Of course, what remained utterly unchanged was the Inner Palace and imperial city, which, under Liu Chengyou's will, had still not been expanded or rebuilt. Owing to the campaign against Shu and the flooding of the Yellow River, it stood in stark contrast to the brand-new inner and outer walls of Kaifeng.

What spread among the people was, naturally, the Son of Heaven's good reputation, with the common folk largely praising him. Of course, this was not deliberate posturing on Liu Chengyou's part—the various ministries and offices that kept the government running were all within the imperial city, and with external campaigns underway and internal flooding, to ensure the stable operation of military and civil affairs, he naturally would not undertake major construction on the imperial city. One must know that, according to the design blueprints, the plan for the Kaifeng imperial city was by no means a simple renovation.

Within Chongzheng Hall, a brand-new and clearly drawn layout map of Kaifeng hung on one side, on which the streets, residences, markets, temples, government offices, military camps, granaries, and more of Kaifeng city were meticulously sketched and annotated...

"Imperial Uncle, these past two years, you have labored with utmost dedication and diligence, building for Us, for the Great Han, such a majestic and magnificent capital. You have worked hard!" Raising a finger, Liu Chengyou said to Murong Yanchao, who stood respectfully behind him.

"Your Majesty entrusts me with great works—it is my honor!" Murong Yanchao grinned, revealing a row of white teeth: "Now, only the imperial city remains!"

"We still say the same: there is no hurry regarding the imperial city!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand.

Murong Yanchao did not press the matter further, but instead took out a stack of ledgers and memorials, presenting them with both hands to Liu Chengyou, his expression somewhat solemn as he said: "These are the detailed accounts of funds and grain expended throughout this endeavor, the registers of conscripted laborers, and the officials involved in corruption and self-dealing. Please review them, Your Majesty."

"Imperial Uncle grows ever more meticulous in his work!" Liu Chengyou glanced over them briefly and remarked flatly.

Having Zhang Dejun take them, Liu Chengyou flipped through, then pulled out the list of officials implicated in corruption, skimming it for a while. The number of implicated officials was not large, but the records of their entanglements were quite detailed, and the first name on it was Chang Si.

"When water is too clear, there are no fish!" Closing the list, Liu Chengyou sighed softly, then looked at Murong Yanchao and asked: "Imperial Uncle, I hear you have dealt with quite a few people over this period—why is it that the prohibition cannot be stamped out?"

"Money and silk do stir men's hearts after all!" Murong Yanchao spread his hands: "There are always those who harbor hopes of luck, and with a modicum of authority, they use public office for private gain, so the prohibition is hard to eradicate."

"This Chang Si—after deducting his donated funds, it turns out he still came out ahead! His greed and stinginess, I have witnessed and warned against, yet he still refuses to reform! What am I to do with such a man?" Liu Chengyou's tone carried a note of lament as he asked Murong Yanchao: "Imperial Uncle, how do you think I should deal with him?"

Upon hearing the question, Murong Yanchao thought for a moment, then said: "Your Majesty, Chang Si's avaricious and miserly nature is known to all the founding ministers of Hedong—it is almost innate. For such a man, even punishment according to the law would hardly make him feel it to the marrow or bring him to repentance. Chang Si's hoarding and corruption stem merely from reliance on his office. I believe the best course is to strip him of his post, send him home to retire, and confiscate all he has amassed over his tenure into the state treasury. Thus, years of accumulation come to naught, and he may reflect in his hometown in his old age, tasting his own bitterness..."

As soon as Murong Yanchao finished his suggestion, Liu Chengyou could not help but cast him a few glances, his gaze tinged with amusement: "Imperial Uncle's words do carry a measure of sentiment!"

Murong Yanchao gave a low chuckle.

After thinking it over, Liu Chengyou sighed: "As for Chang Si, let it be handled accordingly. The founding ministers are gradually dwindling; not many remain now. I have long heard of Chang Si's corruption, but taking it as a moment of folly, I still entrusted him with an important post, giving him authority and position, indulging his lawlessness—this too is my own failing, so I shall not press him too hard. Moreover, given Chang Si's advanced age, each day is one fewer; let him return home to retire!"

"Your Majesty is merciful!" Murong Yanchao immediately offered a flattering remark.

The words had barely fallen when Liu Chengyou spoke again in a detached tone: "As for the rest, since Imperial Uncle has already investigated them thoroughly and the evidence of their crimes is conclusive, transfer them to the Ministry of Justice and have them dealt with strictly and severely—no leniency or oversight whatsoever!"

Facts proved that Liu Chengyou was not so forgiving after all.

The corner of his mouth twitching, Murong Yanchao petitioned again: "At present, owing to the reconstruction, the scholars and commoners who moved outside the city have gradually returned, each receiving new residences to compensate their losses. However, the two temporary settlement sites outside the city have, over two years, grown into market towns. The Kaifeng Prefecture intends to establish new towns there—what does Your Majesty think?"

"Approved! Excellent!" Liu Chengyou's response was but three words.

Turning back, Liu Chengyou looked at Murong Yanchao with a moved expression: "Imperial Uncle, I can see you have grown considerably thinner! These two years have indeed not been easy. For your achievements in building the city, I intend to enfeoff you as a prince to reward you!"

The moment Liu Chengyou's words fell, a delighted smile blossomed on Murong Yanchao's rough, dark old face, and with eager yet feigned modesty, he said: "For mere toil in building the city, how dare I aspire to a princely title?"

Noting his demeanor, Liu Chengyou smiled lightly: "Uncle is the late Emperor's own younger brother, and now the senior elder of the imperial clan—enfeoffing you as a prince also upholds the dignity of our imperial house!"

After a brief pause, Liu Chengyou said: "In a moment, I shall issue an edict of investiture, creating you a Commandery Prince, with Changli as your title!"

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty!" Murong Yanchao, upon hearing this, promptly prostrated himself in obeisance, his emotions somewhat stirred, and tears even welling up in his aged eyes.

No matter how Liu Chengyou had been calling him "Imperial Uncle" all along, he was, after all, surnamed Murong. Within and beyond the court, there were inevitably some unpleasant remarks. Now, Liu Chengyou's enfeoffment of Murong Yanchao as a prince was, for him, a deeper form of recognition.

"These two years, Imperial Uncle has devoted himself wholly to city construction affairs, and it is understandable that he has been somewhat remiss in the official business of Kaifeng Prefecture." After the reward concluded, Liu Chengyou continued: "However, Kaifeng Prefecture is, after all, the capital of the Great Han and the foremost prefecture of the realm, governing several counties and managing hundreds of thousands of scholars and commoners—it cannot be neglected. As such, after your enfeoffment, Imperial Uncle may rest at the prefecture for a time to relieve your physical and mental fatigue. As for Kaifeng Prefecture, I shall dispatch another capable official to take it over!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, the joy on Murong Yanchao's face gradually congealed, but seeing the emperor nephew's gentle and humble smile, his feelings grew complicated.

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your concern and consideration! These two years, I too have felt myself quite unfit for the post of Kaifeng Prefecture, and I fully concur with Your Majesty's considerations!" Taking a deep breath, Murong Yanchao bowed to Liu Chengyou with clasped hands: "However, I have one request, which I hope Your Majesty will grant!"

"Speak!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand.

Murong Yanchao said: "In the new city of Kaifeng, every street, every section of parapet wall, every city gate bears my effort and heart. Yet Your Majesty, owing to the state of the nation, halted the expansion of the imperial city, which I regret. I only ask that when Your Majesty resumes the project, you still place me in charge of overseeing it—I shall not fail the mission, and it will also fulfill my wish!"

"We grant it!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou waved his sleeve generously.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After Murong Yanchao took his leave, Liu Chengyou turned back, picked up a secret memorial from the Wude Office from the imperial desk, on which was recorded the profits Murong Yanchao had opportunistically earned during this city construction. Converted to copper cash, it amounted to roughly fifty thousand strings—a sum not small, yet not shocking either; at least compared to Imperial Uncle Murong's past conduct, he had been restrained.

In this world, there is no cat that does not steal fish. In the early period, Imperial Uncle Murong was naturally diligent and scrupulous in serving the public, but in the later period, he ultimately could not resist and took some profit by the way. However, Liu Chengyou did not fault him harshly for this—his imperial uncle was far cleverer than that old man Chang Si, never committing the foolish act of outright embezzlement. More importantly, the construction of Kaifeng city had been completed quite well, and it was worth tolerating.

"Your Majesty, a great victory at Liangquan!"