Chapter 719: The Land of Sorcerers and Eunuchs

Early the next morning, with the first faint glimmer of dawn, when he left Yaohua Hall the morning light was still dim. Though he had tidied himself up somewhat, Liu Chengyou's face still could not hide his weariness. One reason was the lingering effects of last night's drinking, and the second was that he had fought two battles in a row last night, expending considerable energy—he still had not fully recovered by the time the morning court session began.

The Great Han's court sessions were not frequent—in fact, they were rather few. Apart from the grand assembly at Chongyuan Hall on the first and fifteenth of each month, there were only the small court sessions at Guangzheng Hall held every few days, attended by the various ministries, departments, commissions, and courts, where the chancellors and chief officials reported their work to the Emperor.

When the state faced major events or times of war, Liu Chengyou would simply cancel court altogether. The emperor holding court to hear governance was an established institution, a manifestation of the emperor personally attending to affairs and being diligent in governance. However, Liu Chengyou was not enthusiastic about it—in his view, it was somewhat inefficient.

State affairs were basically all handled by the Hall of State Affairs, while Liu Chengyou controlled and understood the direction of governance through Chongzheng Hall. In many cases, he did not directly intervene in ordinary administrative matters.

In earlier years, when an important minister passed away, to express grief and remembrance and to honor the deceased, Liu Chengyou would issue an edict "suspending court for three days." When his father-in-law Gao Xingzhou died, he even suspended it for five days. By now, this had become a mere formality, with almost no impact on the functioning of governance.

Now, even if Liu Chengyou did not attend court for years on end, it would not hinder the operation of the central offices or the handling of state affairs in the slightest. The state remained firmly in his grasp.

This morning's court session proceeded as usual, hearing reports from the various ministries. Of course, the main topics of discussion were three: first, the merits and rewards for the generals of the southern campaign; second, whether the military colonies should formally begin comprehensive abolition; third, the matter of redividing the Great Han's existing territory into new circuits and prefectures.

It took a full hour and a half before a result was reached. For the first item on merit rewards: Li Yun ranked first, Zhang Xun second, Du Hanhui third, Pan Mei fourth, Shi Yanchao fifth... As for commanders like Murong Yanzhao and Han Tong, they were not ranked in the same manner—the court would make separate bestowals for them. The remaining officers, soldiers, and laborers would have their rewards verified and determined by the Ministry of War based on military merit records.

For the second item, after the detailed report by State Finance Commissioner Xue Juzheng, the comprehensive abolition of military colonies was still temporarily shelved. Bian Guangfan's pilot work in Zhengzhou was not yet mature. However, the other prefectures could make preparations based on Zhengzhou's situation, and word could be leaked to give the colony farmers some mental and financial preparation, awaiting the court's formal edict. The key to abolishing the military colonies still lay in implementing the "redemption purchase."

For the third item, it was basically settled: the original circuits and prefectures would be merged and split. This mainly targeted Henan and Hebei. Under the initial proposal, Hebei would be split into two circuits, Hebei and Shandong; Henan would become the Capital Region Circuit, Southern Capital Region Circuit, and Northern Huai Circuit. The two Huainan circuits, as well as Guannei, Qinfeng, and Hedong, would temporarily remain unchanged. This was also something that required time to implement. Of course, this would create more high-ranking positions in the circuit offices, and the court's control over the localities would reach a new level, basically eliminating the risk of separatist regimes that had existed for three generations.

After returning to Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou summoned Zhao Pu and directly instructed him to keep a close watch on the court session affairs.

"Your Majesty, the envoy from the false court has already entered the palace and awaits the imperial summons at the palace gate!" Zhao Pu reported.

"Quite eager, isn't he!" Liu Chengyou muttered, then said: "No rush. Have someone escort him to the waiting room!"

He then looked at Zhang Dejun and instructed: "Get me something to eat—I'm hungry!"

"Yes! What would Your Majesty like to eat?" Zhang Dejun bowed low.

"Since when have I been a picky eater? Whatever there is, bring it!" Liu Chengyou shot him a sidelong glance and said.

"Yes, this servant will have it arranged immediately!"

Turning back, Liu Chengyou looked at Zhao Pu again and suddenly asked: "Has Gao Baorong still not arrived in the capital?"

"He is already on the way!" Zhao Pu replied softly: "The King of Nanping memorialized that his household has many people and properties, making relocation inconvenient and time-consuming. Coupled with the long distance and hot weather, he has been delayed somewhat. He requests the court's understanding..."

"This Gao Baorong still can't bear to leave! Even if his property is worth a million, isn't two months' time enough? The road is long—Lady Yan and her son have already arrived in the capital, and now even the envoy from Lingnan has reached Kaifeng, yet he's still on the road..." Liu Chengyou could not help but sneer.

Compared to Gao Baorong's delays, Zhou Xingfeng's wife had arrived in the Eastern Capital long ago. Liu Chengyou had also made arrangements, enfeoffing Zhou Baoquan as the Earl of Guiyi and ordering his mother and son to farm for the imperial household in Qionglin Garden for ten years.

As for the Gao clan's dragging behavior from start to finish, by now it had already bred displeasure in Liu Chengyou's heart. A large family with vast estates making relocation inconvenient was an objective factor, but the backwardness and resistance in their thinking was a subjective problem—one that greatly displeased him.

"What about the other members of the Gao clan?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

"They have been moving north in succession. Among them, Gao Baoxu, Gao Baoyin, and others have been very submissive—they sold off their properties and their entire families have already settled in Weishi!" Zhao Pu said.

Weishi County was the place designated by the court for the Gao clan's resettlement. It was not far from the Eastern Capital, belonging to the near capital region, constantly under the court's surveillance.

"These few have a good attitude. If they have talent for governance and administration, they may be given priority for appointment!" Liu Chengyou finally showed a hint of a smile.

Taking a slight breath, Liu Chengyou leaned back and asked Zhao Pu: "I hear you've been frequenting the Zhaowen Pavilion lately, looking up records about the false court in Lingnan?"

Upon being asked, a faint smile hung at the corner of Zhao Pu's mouth. He clasped his hands and said: "Now that our court borders Lingnan, Your Majesty will sooner or later send troops against it. As a minister serving at Your Majesty's side, I naturally should gain some advance understanding, to be prepared for Your Majesty's inquiries."

Liu Chengyou could not help but nod, his whole body relaxing somewhat. His gaze at Zhao Pu carried appreciation: "You've thought ahead of many people!"

"The realm has been in chaos for a long time. The false Liu sits isolated in Lingnan, cut off from communication with the Central Plains, with information flowing poorly. The records in the Zhaowen Pavilion are too outdated to be relied upon—they can only serve as slight reference for understanding. However, recently I have compiled some intelligence on the false court's national conditions from the reports submitted by the Military Virtue and Military Intelligence offices!" Zhao Pu replied.

Pointing with his hand, Liu Chengyou instructed: "Sit! Tell me!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Pu narrated calmly: "Your Majesty, in examining the affairs of the Lingnan state, I perceive three major maladies.

First, the slaughter of the imperial clan. The false court's ruler, Liu Sheng, killed his elder brother Liu Bin to seize the throne. Because his succession was illegitimate, after usurping power, Liu Sheng has been extremely suspicious and wary of his brothers, fearing someone might imitate him. From the very beginning of his reign, over the past thirteen years, he has slaughtered his blood brothers on a grand scale. As of this year, of his ten-plus brothers, only his younger brother, the Military Governor of Zhenzhou, Prince Tong Liu Hongzheng, remains!"

"This Liu Sheng is actually so ruthless!" Liu Chengyou's brows could not help but furrow.

His mind subconsciously connected to himself—he now already had six sons, and the number might continue to grow in the future. He had previously considered the question of his successor, but the four words "brothers slaughtering each other" had now awakened him to vigilance for the first time.

In fact, in that very month, Liu Sheng had already killed Liu Hongzheng, his last remaining brother. Thus, all the sons of the Southern Han's Gaozu were exterminated.

Seeing Liu Chengyou's reaction, Zhao Pu also said: "When I first heard of it, I too felt horrified. This false court ruler's heart is vicious, his methods poisonous, chilling to the bone. His deeds violate human ethics and are intolerable to heavenly principle—truly a tyrant and a beast!"

Liu Chengyou gestured for him to continue, and Zhao Pu went on: "Second, arrogance, extravagance, and debauchery. According to reports, the false court has grandly constructed palaces, building several hundred in succession including the Southern Palace, Daming, Changhua, Ganquan, and others, plundering and amassing gold, silk, and rare treasures from the people to supply their pleasures!"

Upon hearing this, while feeling contempt, Liu Chengyou immediately declared: "When we destroy them in the future, we will surely transport all the wealth from their palaces north. Their generations of accumulated plunder will be more than enough to fill the Great Han's national treasury!"

Glancing at the Emperor, Zhao Pu could not help but think to himself—His Majesty really is quite direct...

In fact, this kind of arrogant, extravagant ruler and tyrannically taxing state was perfect for Liu Chengyou. Let them play the villains; when their state was conquered, he could take all their accumulated wealth to enrich the nation. This was also the most direct benefit of taking Lingnan.

"Third, sorcerers and eunuchs disrupting governance. According to reports, Liu Sheng is rigid and suspicious by nature, unable to trust his ministers, and instead favors eunuchs and sorceresses. Currently, the most powerful figures in the false court are the eunuch Lin Yanyu and the sorceress slave Lu Qiongxian. These people collude with each other, causing the false court's governance to be chaotic and corrupt, with filth and confusion everywhere. Back when the Ma clan had internal strife and they sent troops north, the commander Pan Chongche was a eunuch."

"Hmph! Hmph hmph!" After hearing Zhao Pu's description, Liu Chengyou could not hide his contempt for the Southern Han at all, mixed with a trace of delight. He said: "With such perverse conduct, how could they not be destroyed! If not for Lingnan's special geography, how could such a beast of a ruler run rampant for over a decade?"

With a slight sigh, Liu Chengyou continued: "Thinking of the people of Lingnan, living in such dire straits, I truly wish to send troops immediately to rescue them from their suffering!"

"Your Majesty's benevolence and virtue will naturally extend to all within the four seas—Lingnan is no exception! With their national condition being what it is, one day when the great army marches south, the people of Lingnan will surely welcome the imperial forces with food and drink in hand. The false court is doomed to destruction!"