Chapter 711: Holding Court over Huxiang

In front of Chongzheng Hall, five eunuchs hurried along under their leader's direction, their steps quick and urgent. Because of the hot weather, every face was flushed red, sweat pouring down their backs. Each carried a square box that looked heavy and burdensome; through the gaps in the wooden boxes, one could faintly see cold vapor seeping out...

Only when they reached the front of the hall, looking at Zhang Dejun standing there with a cold face, did the leading eunuch hurry forward, bowing his head and bending his body, saying respectfully: "Inner Officer!"

Zhang Dejun wore an expression of stern severity, sweeping a glance over the ice boxes, then coldly stared at the lead eunuch: "Why so slow? You dare to delay the ice for Chongzheng Hall? His Majesty has always detested heat—do you not know that?"

"Inner Officer, this one, this one..." The lead eunuch, named Yan Tuo, was flustered by Zhang Dejun's interrogation, stammering as he tried to explain.

"No need for your explanations! I can see you don't want this post anymore!" But Zhang Dejun gave him no chance to speak, continuing his rebuke.

With a sharp gaze, Zhang Dejun asked again: "Are the ice cloths prepared?"

"They're all in the boxes!" Yan Tuo said hurriedly.

His tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed somewhat. Zhang Dejun waved his hand: "What are you standing around for? Hand over the ice boxes!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Beckoning his subordinate eunuchs, he respectfully handed the ice boxes to the inner attendants and palace maids of Chongzheng Hall for inspection and use. However, watching Zhang Dejun, who after putting on his display of authority left only a retreating back, Yan Tuo muttered silently to himself: "What are you being so arrogant about? So what if you serve His Majesty? Sooner or later I'll get you in my hands..."

Inside the hall were the same old faces—the current leadership of the Great Han, which, barring unexpected events, could remain stable until the realm was unified. What they discussed was still the matter of Jinghu.

It was now already the fifth month. Reports from the south had arrived: the southern expeditionary army had achieved complete victory. Zhou Xingfeng had fallen in battle, Changsha had surrendered, and all the prefectures north of the mountain ridges were now in the court's possession.

However, just as had been anticipated, the real work came after the war. They had long known that Hunan was vast but sparsely populated, with complex local conditions—easy to take, hard to govern. But after delving deeper into the actual situation, it became even more headache-inducing.

Because of the endless rebellions, the governing order had collapsed, various registries and records had been severely damaged, and much information was incomplete. But from the preliminary reports out of Changsha, the total population of all the prefectures and counties north of the ridges, even counting a certain number of hidden households, absolutely did not exceed 90,000 households.

And these people were scattered across the vast lands of Huxiang. Of them, eight out of ten were going hungry, and half were in a state awaiting relief. The Han army's acceptance of the various prefectures and counties was carried out with grain leading the way and the military maintaining order.

Of course, for the current Great Han court, providing relief to a mere few tens of thousands of refugee and famine households was nothing at all—in the past few years, which major disaster hadn't involved several hundred thousand to over a million people?

But the problem was that Hunan had only just been taken, a thousand li away, and the court didn't yet have that organizational capacity there. Of course, the army's efficiency had played a very positive role in this regard. But the more direct problem was that the population was too dispersed.

Up to now, the Han army that had entered Hunan was already scattered in a fragmented state, distributed across the various prefectures and counties—some places had a single army, some a single battalion, and some county towns even had only a single company.

The bad news was that relief was needed almost everywhere, and because of the road conditions, grain transport was arduous and had security concerns. The good news was that, relying on the relief stations established in each prefecture and county, most of Hunan's famine victims had been gathered together, making the situation clear at a glance and much more convenient for future management.

Before new government offices and governing order could be constructed, all of Hunan remained under military administration—even more thoroughly than under Zhou Xingfeng's rule. But this kind of governing state was also prone to problems. What had always been called "military government" was a stopgap measure, not a sound system.

With the ice blocks placed inside, the heat in the hall immediately dissipated considerably. Liu Chengyou took the ice cloth, wiped his face, felt somewhat refreshed, and signaled with his eyes: "Prepare some for the ministers as well!"

"Yes!"

While giving thanks for the imperial favor, Li Tao continued reporting to Liu Chengyou on the situation in Hunan: "Zan Jurun has arrived in Changsha. The foremost task remains establishing the Administration Commission, filling its staff, reforming the laws, and relieving the famine victims to restore peace to Hunan. Grain from Jingxiang is also being transported south in succession."

Regarding the candidate for Jinghu Administration Commissioner, after deliberation, Liu Chengyou ultimately agreed with Chancellor Li Tao's recommendation, transferring Remonstrance Grand Master Zan Jurun to the post.

"Are the officials and clerks sufficient?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Over thirty officials have already been drawn from the capital and the prefectures and counties of Shannan, sent south to Hunan!" Li Tao said. "However, to quickly stabilize the prefectures and counties, we still need to recruit a batch of local scholars, and we should also employ a number of the former Hunan military government's officials and clerks. The Ministry of Personnel has already dispatched special envoys south to conduct examinations and appointments!"

Nodding, Liu Chengyou said: "I always feel that talented people are insufficient. I intend to hold another special examination this autumn. What do you ministers think?"

Hearing this proposal, the several chancellors exchanged glances. It was Fan Zhi who spoke up, offering counsel: "Your Majesty, since the founding of the state, the court has already held many regular and special examinations—nearly one every year. I believe this is too frequent. The organization involved, from the localities to the central government, is extremely burdensome. Moreover, in recent years, the scholars the court has selected, whether in writing or in ability, have become increasingly inferior. I believe that opening a special examination merely because of the governance of Hunan is quite unnecessary!"

Watching Liu Chengyou's expression, seeing that he showed no displeasure at being contradicted, Fan Zhi continued: "I believe that although the Huxiang region is vast, its population is sparse. We only need to consolidate and merge prefectures and counties, and govern them in a concentrated manner!"

"What Fan Qing says is quite right!" After thinking it over briefly, Liu Chengyou nodded.

In fact, when he had proposed holding the special examination, his attitude had already been hesitant. After all, selecting scholars too frequently was not a good thing. After years of selection, the elite talent within the Great Han's borders had been rather thoroughly harvested. Forcing it would only risk poor quality, picking up some rotten fruit. Moreover, if one considered the employment of surrendered officials and generals, the talent gap wasn't really that large.

"The matter of consolidating and merging prefectures and counties is a good suggestion. We should send a document to Changsha, have Zan Jurun investigate in detail, and submit a memorial to the Eastern Capital as soon as possible for central approval!" Liu Chengyou walked over to the newly made map, staring at that large swath of territory in Hunan: "Additionally, the newly submitted people must be re-registered into household registers, and land, orchards, and farming tools must be distributed."

"Your Majesty, shouldn't this be slowed down a bit?" Li Tao seemed to have some objection.

Glancing at him, Liu Chengyou said directly: "Now we have tens of thousands of troops stationed in the mere territory of Hunan, precisely to escort the court's policies. If we don't take this opportunity to solve everything at once, what are we waiting for?"

Startled by the Son of Heaven's gaze, Li Tao quickly changed his tune and agreed. Liu Chengyou also knew what Li Tao was worried about—any matter involving land was no small matter.

Take the military colony reform as an example. It had only just begun implementation, and already some problems had emerged in Bian Guangfan's handling of it. Both inside and outside, in court and among the common people, many had reached their hands into it. Whether nobles or commoners, their attachment to land was truly bone-deep. For this reason, under Liu Chengyou's will, several more "patches" had been added to the military colony reform.

As for Li Tao, he feared the knife was too sharp, directly stabbing at the interests of the local clans and powerful families, easily provoking backlash.

But given Hunan's current situation, how could Liu Chengyou fear that? Today's Huxiang was a building that had been demolished, free for him to reconstruct as he pleased. From top to bottom, no matter what monsters and demons jumped out, they would all be mercilessly swept away.

"Has the candidate for the Jinghu Surveillance Commission been decided?" Liu Chengyou changed the topic.

"Shi Wende, the Hunan Pacification Commissioner, can serve in that post!" Li Tao said.

Li Tao's choice clearly pleased Liu Chengyou. This gentleman was one of the "Eighteen Academicians," quite renowned among Hunan's scholars. Most importantly, he had proactively pledged allegiance to the Great Han four or five years early, and had spent these years tirelessly based in Lizhou, spreading the grace and majesty of his Great Han Emperor to Huxiang. Such a loyal and virtuous man deserved ample reward.

"There's another problem—how do we govern the Miao and Yao barbarians in the five western prefectures?" Liu Chengyou's expression turned somewhat more solemn.

"Your Majesty, the barbarians of Hunan differ little from the Rong and Di. Most of them admire imperial civilization and harbor considerable submission toward the Central Plains and the court. We ministers believe that since Hunan has only just been taken, stability should come first. For the various barbarian peoples, we should temporarily adopt a policy of loose control, and only after military and political affairs are consolidated should we gradually civilize them and transform their customs!" Li Tao suggested this.

On Liu Chengyou's side, of course, he wanted to accomplish everything in one step. After all, compared to the southwest, the barbarians of Hunan were indeed quite highly sinicized. In the five western prefectures of Xiangxi, many officials were even appointed by the barbarian kings, and their governance largely imitated Han systems.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Chengyou asked: "What about Fu Yantong? Does he not wish to come to court?"

"News from Chenzhou says he's making excuses to decline. It seems that barbarian chieftain still harbors suspicions!"

"That's understandable. It seems I'll have to find a way to dispel his doubts!"