Chapter 776: In Chang'an

In the height of summer, Chang'an radiated a certain fervent warmth; the blazing sunlight illuminated the entire city with extraordinary brightness. The hottest season was about to descend, and the citizens of Chang'an seemed to have already made preparations to endure the scorching summer.

Since the unrest broke out in Guanzhong, Chang'an had been in turmoil for a time—a turmoil of the people's hearts, with widespread discussion among the populace, though it felt more like gossip to pass the time. Although Wang Shun's "righteous army" had made a great disturbance in Jingzhao, killing officials and plundering the people, their murderous fury reaching the heavens, to the citizens of Chang'an it was still nothing to fear—perhaps the confidence of a great city.

It was only after Luyang and Weinan rose in succession that a slight tension emerged, but Chief Commander Zhao Hongyin led his troops to swiftly suppress them, and with the prefectural government's pacification efforts, the people's hearts were fully settled. Sure enough, the rebel leader Wang Shun, who had stirred up the mutiny, failed to escape the imperial army's extermination—his head still hangs at the West Gate to this day, a warning to the world that the court's authority must not be violated, and that rebellion leads only to death.

Chang'an—a city of a thousand years, the old capital of Han and Tang, a city whose very name evokes boundless emotion and longing. The splendor of those bygone days can still be recalled; though it has passed through much war and sorrow, its historical depth remains, and with the passage of time, the more it settles, the heavier it becomes, the entire city accumulating much sighing and lamentation.

What evokes even greater regret is Chang'an's inevitable decline—almost a microcosm of all of Guanzhong. Tracing the roots: the destruction of war, the shifts of climate, the decline of the Silk Road, the sharp decrease in population, the fall in military standing—all are contributing factors, but more important still is the eastward shift of the political and economic center.

Yet even after a century of decline and continuous decay, Chang'an's position and influence within Guanzhong and indeed the entire western reaches of the Great Han remain pivotal. A city of over a hundred thousand people still ranks among the great metropolises of the present-day Great Han.

Liu Chengyou's arrival likewise brought its share of sighs and reflections. And with the Son of Heaven's coming, it seemed to draw out the enthusiasm buried deep within the entire city for so long—from officials and generals at the top, to merchants, artisans, and common folk at the bottom, all adopted an extraordinarily positive attitude, reverently welcoming the Emperor's arrival.

On the day the imperial carriage entered the city, nearly half the city's populace gathered at the gates and along the streets to welcome and observe the procession—a surging tide of humanity, a clamorous uproar. It was not by official decree but of their own volition that the people came, wishing to catch a glimpse of the imperial countenance, kneeling in reverence along the road, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"—a scene of tremendous fervor.

It was not that the citizens of Chang'an harbored any great loyalty or reverence for the Son of Heaven of the Great Han—perhaps it was herd mentality, perhaps curiosity. Moreover, who knows how many years it had been since Chang'an had welcomed a Zhengtong Son of Heaven's visit; Liu Chengyou's arrival seemed to have stirred the pride and glory rooted deep in the bones of Chang'an's people...

This is—Chang'an!

At the enthusiastic cheers of Chang'an's subjects, Liu Chengyou felt joy but also surprise. Newly arrived, he responded to his subjects with utmost warmth, appearing outside the imperial carriage to wave in acknowledgment. He also personally received several representatives of the gentry and common folk, among them an elder of remarkable longevity, whom he directly bestowed with an honorary rank and grain stipend.

There was a small episode: the assembled representatives of the gentry and common folk petitioned Liu Chengyou, hoping that the city's status as an auxiliary capital could be restored. To this, Liu Chengyou smiled and let it pass—as an emperor given to suspicion and deep thought, he absolutely refused to believe such a proposal had no one behind it.

Of course, he would not agree either—at least not for now. Making Chang'an an auxiliary capital again would mean contending for status with Luoyang, and for Liu Chengyou, there was simply no need to stir up such waves. One must remember, the Yedu designation of Daming Prefecture's Yuancheng had only recently been abolished by Liu Chengyou.

At present, the Great Han operates on a system of three capitals—the Eastern Capital at Kaifeng, the Western Capital at Luoyang, and the Northern Capital at Jinyang—sufficient to overawe the realm and ensure the court's authority is duly proclaimed.

On the first day in Chang'an, besides receiving Jingzhao's officials, military officers, and common people, he also inquired into the losses from this disturbance and the state of recovery—one of the original purposes of his visit.

After preliminary accounting, a rough result had been obtained: over a dozen counties were affected by the chaos, with more than eight thousand officials and civilians dead—this was the direct population loss and the greatest loss. As for economic and property losses, limited by statistical methods, they were difficult to estimate, but in any case considerable—the large amount of destroyed farmland, houses, and the summer grain that had been delayed from harvest alone constituted a substantial sum.

Of course, for the government, the expenditures on pacification and relief, and the tax remissions for the afflicted counties and towns, would eventually yield a precise figure—that would be the most direct measure of loss. Naturally, the money the rebel army plundered from the people belonged to the imperial army as war spoils—that was another matter entirely; at the very least, it would not be returned to the people, nor could it be.

In the end, between order and chaos, it is always the common people who suffer.

By the time Liu Chengyou arrived in Chang'an, the various regions had largely settled down; the rebel troops and riotous mobs had basically been purged, and those villains who had taken advantage of the chaos to commit evil were still being cracked down upon. Under the government's consolation, the people who had fled to avoid disaster were gradually returning home, and the summer harvest was being rushed. With the Emperor on inspection, no local government dared to slacken its efforts; at the same time, after the disturbance was also the moment for achieving political merit—officials could hardly help but harbor expectations of reaching the imperial ear.

Upon entering Chang'an, Liu Chengyou took up residence at the Prince Yong's mansion.

That night, in the mansion's main hall, he summoned Liu Chenghsun's family for a family banquet—the atmosphere was fairly harmonious. Liu Chenghsun, now twenty-three, had completely shed his youthful greenness, growing ever more composed and steady, with a slightly rugged stubble that lent him increasing dignity. As the Emperor's full-blooded younger brother and the Prince Yong of the Great Han, he enjoyed supreme honor and glory.

The Wuyue Princess had also grown up—tranquil and refined, no longer the young bride of years past—and she had successfully borne Liu Chenghsun a son, named Liu Chun.

"Can he talk yet?" Liu Chengyou seemed very pleased, personally holding his imperial nephew and playing with him a little as he asked Liu Chenghsun.

"Just over a year old, still babbling!" Liu Chenghsun's handsome face—as a new father, he doted greatly on his first son, and when speaking of him, the smile on his face could not be contained.

"Call me uncle!" Liu Chengyou wore a warm expression, gazing at little Liu Chun's bright eyes.

"Un... un..." As if instinctively knowing to please the strange man holding him, the imperial nephew called out in his garbled way, drawing a great laugh from Liu Chengyou.

"This child is quite clever!" In good spirits, Liu Chengyou said to Liu Chenghsun.

"It must be Second Brother's benevolent influence that has awakened this little one's mind!" Liu Chenghsun said.

"Third Brother! You've learned to flatter your second brother too?" Liu Chengyou said with a smile.

Liu Chenghsun chuckled, feeling much more at ease.

"At his one-year ceremony, the object-picking ritual—what did he grab?" Liu Chengyou seemed to genuinely dote on his only imperial nephew at present, asking with concern.

Liu Chenghsun: "A writing brush!"

"Excellent! Perhaps in the future, our imperial house will produce a great literary master?" Liu Chengyou said with a light laugh.

"Then I'll thank Second Brother for the auspicious words on behalf of this little one!"

After showing his care for the imperial bloodline, Liu Chengyou finally set the child down and bestowed a piece of jade. The family banquet continued, with the several imperial princes greatly interested in their cousin still in the cradle, marveling at him and taking turns to look and tease...

The women chatted among themselves, while the two Liu brothers shared a table, drinking and conversing. In the mansion they were brothers, but the bond of sovereign and subject always outweighed that of brothers—Liu Chengyou could hardly discuss only family trivialities with his younger brother.

"You've been in Jingzhao for quite a few years now, far from the capital, and Mother often thinks of you. This time, you'll return to the Eastern Capital with me, to attend to Mother and let her see the grandson she has longed for!" Clinking cups with Liu Chenghsun, Liu Chengyou instructed calmly.

"Yes!" He was briefly at a loss for words upon hearing this, but facing his imperial elder brother's instruction, he dared not harbor the slightest thought of objection.

Hesitating for a moment, Liu Chenghsun's voice dropped somewhat: "Second Brother, this disturbance in Guanzhong—especially the heavy blow to Jingzhao—I bear responsibility for failing to detect it. I've disappointed you..."

"This has nothing to do with you; don't blame yourself!" Glancing at him, Liu Chengyou said flatly: "There are others who handle governance and administration; you need not carry any burden!"

After a moment's hesitation, Liu Chenghsun said: "These years, for Jingzhao's public security and administrative affairs, the Grand Tutor has exerted his full strength—promoting education, benefiting the people, and doing good for the locality, with a consistently good reputation. I hope, I hope Second Brother can deal with him leniently..."

"Who said I was going to punish Li Song?" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou said with amusement.

"I guessed." After a pause, Liu Chenghsun voiced his thoughts: "With Guanzhong struck by such chaos and so many changes in the circuit administration, how could Jingzhao be spared!"

"It seems these past few years, you truly have grown considerably!" Liu Chengyou seemed quite approving of his younger brother's development, taking a sip of wine and saying unhurriedly: "That you can remember the bond between teacher and student, I can understand. However, some matters have not yet been decided by the court—do not engage in reckless speculation, lest it stir unrest among the people and lead to negligence in governance and missed affairs!"

"Yes!" Liu Chenghsun opened his mouth as if to speak, then answered in a low voice.