Chapter 743: Resolution of Disciplinary Measures

Because he only planned to stay one day in Yuancheng, Liu Chengyou's schedule for that day was packed full.

At dawn, he rose from bed, washed, and took several of the princes to practice martial arts for exercise, then bathed and ate. At the hour of Chen, he brought the Noble Consort and her son to pay respects at the "Lord's Shrine" to Gao Xingzhou, with the Empress, Consort Ning, and the other three princes also accompanying them, to show respect for the meritorious official and elder.

After the worship concluded, the family toured the streets of Yuancheng together, observing the people's circumstances, customs, and spirit. In the afternoon, accompanied by Guo Congyi and Military Commander Zhang Xun, he reviewed the Yuancheng troops with the princes, which was Liu Chengyou's customary practice.

As a major city of Hebei, Yuancheng had been garrisoned with heavy troops since the founding of the dynasty. Even though the troop strength had been continuously reduced over the years, there remained a standing force of eight thousand. Among them, six thousand belonged to the imperial army and two thousand to the newly organized prefectural troops under the Chief Command. Such a standing force in the heartland of the Great Han was second only to the Eastern Capital; even Luoyang could not compare.

The bearing of the Yuancheng troops was still quite imposing. Guo Congyi had real skill in training and commanding soldiers, and as for Zhang Xun, he had been transferred over after the conquest of Jinghu, with an even tougher style.

Of course, it was unavoidable that the combat effectiveness of the Yuancheng garrison had gradually declined to second-rate within the Great Han. Although there were many veteran soldiers, many of them had known prolonged peace and were unlike the armies that had participated in the various wars of the Qianyou era. Even with rotational garrison duty, through reductions and transfers, the elite troops and capable generals had mostly remained in the Eastern Capital and along the borders. Though Yuancheng's status was important, militarily it could not help but fall into a secondary position.

Among the princes accompanying him, unsurprisingly, Liu Fang was the most curious and excited, since his disposition was naturally fond of martial affairs and soldiery. In the Eastern Capital, though he often came into contact with the military, and the soldiers of the Inner Palace were all battle-hardened elites, a grand spectacle like concentrated drills, displays of military bearing, and receiving review was a first for the young boy.

Looking at his fourth son's excited little face, with a strange brilliance shining in his dark, bright pupils, Liu Chengyou felt a sense of satisfaction at seeing it come to pass. After all, among the princes, if one or two understood military affairs, that was hardly a bad thing.

After reviewing the troops, Liu Chengyou went out to survey the countryside around Daming Prefecture. As the saying goes, a ruler governs with agriculture as the foundation, and officials administer with encouraging cultivation as the priority. Since it was the spring plowing season, going out to observe the agricultural conditions also suited his habits.

The land along the river was flat and fertile, with good cultivation, and had long been a granary. In the early years after the founding, it had given tremendous support to the court in taxes and grain supplies, and the annual assistance it provided to the northern border troops in provisions was no small amount.

Stretches of farmland lay like chessboards spread across the land of Hebei, with ditches and ridges crisscrossing in neat arrangement. It was the farming season, and everywhere showed scenes of busy agricultural work. The green of the young crops in the fields lifted Liu Chengyou's spirits. He was quite satisfied with the agricultural administration under Daming Prefecture.

After a full day of rushing about, Liu Chengyou could not help but feel weary. By the time he returned to the traveling palace, it was already evening, and Dou Yi and Li Huan had been waiting for quite some time.

Entering, he drank a cup of tea to quench his thirst and dispel some fatigue. Glancing at the two men standing respectfully before him, Liu Chengyou asked: "I hear that you two left the traveling palace yesterday, skipped your offices, abandoned your duties, and went straight home. What is the meaning of this?"

"Your Majesty, your servant reflected on himself and felt utterly ashamed, so he returned home to await punishment!" Dou Yi replied.

Li Huan nodded, a trace of shame on his face, as if to say, me too.

"The two of you are incompatible in temperament and often disagree in opinion, are you not? How is it that on this matter, you both thought the same thing without consulting each other?" Liu Chengyou said with a faint smile: "I have not even decided how to deal with you, yet you have already suspended yourselves? While you hold a post, you should attend to its affairs for that day. Even if it was only a little over a day, who is responsible for the official business that was delayed and neglected? If urgent matters of consequence or matters of life and death were involved, who would bear the responsibility for the delay?"

These few simple questions sent chills down both their spines. Dou Yi even felt that one wrong step led to wrong steps at every turn, as if no matter what he did, he would incur the Emperor's displeasure.

His rather handsome face flushed somewhat red, whether from nervousness or shame was unclear. Again they both begged for punishment in unison, but Liu Chengyou had already shown obvious impatience with such behavior, leaving the two even more at a loss.

"After reviewing the troops, I went to survey the territory under Daming Prefecture. I did not find the agricultural affairs neglected. The common farming folk, though they may not sing your praises, at least have no curses or complaints against you, Governor of Daming!" Liu Chengyou said calmly to Li Huan: "Yesterday I also examined the household registrations, farmland, taxes, and granaries under Daming Prefecture, and the situation was still fairly good. Speaking strictly on the merits, you have done a decent job as Governor!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Li Huan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and replied with a cupped-fist salute: "Your servant is deeply humbled!"

"You have served in Daming for several years now, and it is time for a transfer. You will first accompany me north, and the specific arrangements will be decided later!" Liu Chengyou said to Li Huan.

"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Huan replied, the stone hanging over his heart half-settled.

"As for you, Dou Qing!" Liu Chengyou then looked at Dou Yi: "You will go to Qinfeng, still as Judicial Commissioner, in charge of criminal matters! Until your successor arrives, you will also concurrently handle the circuit's daily administrative affairs!"

"Yes!" Though inevitably disappointed, Dou Yi obediently accepted the order.

Compared to Hebei, Qinfeng had poor land and sparse population, a remote and impoverished region with basically nothing to compare. However, it was a strategically important location and a base for the campaign against Shu, a place where talent was needed. For an ambitious minister, it was still a place worth going. On the other hand, at least he had a definite posting. Looking at Li Huan, he was still a "candidate awaiting appointment," and though favored to accompany the imperial entourage north, that was not necessarily a good thing.

After Dou and Li withdrew, Liu Chengyou could not help but shake his head, his expression indifferent. When the chief officials of a circuit and prefecture were both transferred at once, especially from an important place like Daming Prefecture, it was easy to imagine that a political upheaval was unavoidable, and its effects would inevitably reach the court.

After considering for a moment, Liu Chengyou summoned Hu Zai and directly instructed: "I will speak, and you will record!"

"Yes!"

Before the Son of Heaven, Hu Zai behaved as usual. Receiving the order, he quickly sat down, spread out paper, raised his sleeve, grasped the brush, and dipped it in ink—every movement exuding an air of refined elegance.

"Draft an edict to be sent to the Eastern Capital: Dou Yi, Administration Commissioner of the Western Hebei Circuit, is transferred to be Judicial Commissioner of Qinfeng; Li Huan, Governor of Daming Prefecture, is relieved of his post and will accompany the imperial tour north. The post of Administration Commissioner will be filled by Dou Zhengu, transferred from the Huaixi Circuit. The Huaixi Circuit and Daming Prefecture posts will have candidates recommended by the Hall of State Affairs and the various offices of the Southern Administration..." Liu Chengyou said: "Hmm, mind the wording—make it somewhat stern!"

Hu Zai was slightly slow to respond, but he quickly nodded, recorded the gist, considered briefly, then raised his brush and wrote it in one go, the document complete. He presented it to Liu Chengyou for review—a piece of over two hundred characters, fully displaying his literary skill and talent.

"Hu Zai! Your literary talent truly lives up to your reputation! When it comes to writing prose and composition, even in this entire court, those with wit as quick as yours are few!" Liu Chengyou said with a light laugh, glancing at Hu Zai.

"Your Majesty flatters me!" A bit of ruddiness appeared on Hu Zai's thin face, and even his spirits seemed improved.

"However, imperial edicts and official documents are ultimately different from literary essays and rhapsodies. Being concise and to the point, stating the essential matters clearly, so that the administrative intent is conveyed without error—that is what matters more!" Liu Chengyou said.

Hearing this, the smile on Hu Zai's face froze slightly. After thinking it over, he cupped his fists and said: "Your Majesty's instruction is correct. Your servant will immediately rewrite it!"

"No need!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and said: "After affixing the seal, send it swiftly to the Eastern Capital!"

"Yes!"

"Of course, documents of appointment also cannot do without literary talent like yours!" A scholar was a scholar—seeing his spirits slightly dampened, Liu Chengyou added another remark.

Hearing the Emperor say this, Hu Zai regained some of his vigor. The court's edicts and official documents each had their formats; for some important appointments, the appointment documents were composed by the Academicians and literary talents of the court, and when brought out, they were essentially fine pieces of writing.

"Your Majesty!" A bit later, Shi Shouxin came to report: "All the camps are ready. May I ask what time we depart tomorrow?"

"Let it be the hour of Chen!" Liu Chengyou instructed without hesitation: "You may notify the accompanying generals, officials, and staff!"

"Yes!"

He then looked toward Zhang Dejun: "Also notify the consorts, princes, and palace attendants, so there will be no chaos at the last moment!"

"This humble one understands!"