Chapter 786: Return to the Capital

"I've been reading your 'Journey to the West' these past few days, and I've gained a great deal from it. Come, let's return to the tent—tell me more about the Tibetan forces in the Lanzhou, Shanzhou, Hezhou, and Guozhou regions!" Under the scorching sun, feeling his scalp itch, Liu Chengyou decisively chose not to contend with the blazing orb, and said to Lu Duoxun.

"Yes!"

In an open area of the field headquarters, a commotion was underway, drawing Liu Chengyou's attention. He went forward to look—it turned out that the four imperial princes, taking advantage of the halt to escape the sun, were competing in horsemanship there, attracting a crowd of onlookers. Attendant ministers, palace eunuchs, palace maids, and soldiers all gathered, happy to join in the excitement.

A path had been cleared in the open ground, marked with flags and wooden posts as a racecourse, running straight out of the camp. Prince Yong, Liu Chenghsun, stood to one side, rarely indulging his playful nature, serving as referee. The four princes, mounted on several un-grown colts, were ready at the starting point, each waiting confidently for the command. Liu Fang even waved his little hand at the onlookers, drawing a burst of cheers.

However, as Liu Chengyou strolled over, the dog-days atmosphere was doused like a basin of cold water poured over the head. The scene quickly quieted, and the crowd hastily bowed in greeting with some unease.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou said: "In such hot weather, you lot certainly have high spirits!"

Liu Chengyou's reaction was clearly not angry, which let everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Liu Chenghsun was somewhat more composed, and laughed: "The journey home is dull, so we thought to have some fun. Nong'er and the others asked me to be referee, and as their imperial uncle, I couldn't very well refuse. Second Brother, you are an emperor on horseback, and you advocate martial valor and serving the country through military merit—your imperial nephews are simply heeding your teachings. As princes, leading by example and promoting a martial spirit..."

Under Liu Chengyou's gaze, his several sons instinctively puffed out their chests, like knights being reviewed. Looking at Liu Chenghsun, Liu Chengyou said with a light laugh: "You're the referee—why haven't you given the command?"

Soon, at Liu Chenghsun's command, drums thundered all around, and the four brothers Liu Xu and the others immediately galloped off, while the onlookers cheered loudly...

"The four princes are gifted with extraordinary talent, and their agile bearing on horseback faintly shows Your Majesty's own style!" Lu Duoxun said with a smile at the side.

"I have heard it said that the peoples beyond the frontier are fierce and skilled in battle, because at three they can ride sheep, at five they can shoot rats, at eight they can ride horses, and at nine they can tend flocks... Thus, when they grow up, they become qualified archers." Liu Chengyou said calmly: "I have them practice martial arts, not because I want them to become especially valiant warriors, but only to strengthen their bodies and temper martial with civil learning!"

In but a moment, the four riders galloped back, nearly neck and neck, chasing one another, and the cheers around grew even more fervent. All four sons gave their all, and even in the final dozen-odd zhang, they remained undivided in front or behind.

Of course, the final victor was still the youngest, Liu Fang.

"I won! Haha!" Liu Fang's small face beamed with joyful smiles, his manner ostentatious as he spurred his little treasure steed, galloping along the track like a general returning triumphant, basking in everyone's attention.

Of the remaining three princes, Liu Xu maintained the poise of an elder brother, watching Liu Fang with a light smile, seemingly happy for his younger brother as well. Liu Yang was somewhat unwilling, for the margin had been so narrow this time. As for Liu Xi, he still wore an indifferent expression, seemingly unconcerned with victory or defeat.

Riding forward, the four sons dismounted and bowed in greeting. Liu Fang looked up at Liu Chengyou, his bright eyes seeming to convey a single message: Praise me quickly!

Amused by that little expression, Liu Chengyou tucked his dragon sleeves behind his back, and said gently: "You all performed well. I intend to give you some rewards!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" At these words, all the sons beamed with delight.

Liu Fang trotted forward on his little legs, and asked with a naive smile: "Father, what are you going to reward us with?"

Reaching out to pinch his little cheek, Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then said: "I'll give you... another teacher!"

At these words, all except Liu Xu showed a trace of dismay. Liu Chengyou glanced at Lu Duoxun beside him, and said: "Lu Duoxun, we are still a thousand li from the Eastern Capital, and the return journey will take some days. Along the way, I entrust these four students to you!"

Hearing this, Lu Duoxun was somewhat taken aback, then replied with hesitation: "Your Majesty, your servant's learning is shallow. What virtue or ability do I possess to presume to be teacher to the princes?"

"What, the ever-ambitious, confident, and proud Young Lord Lu dares not teach four young boys?" Liu Chengyou teased.

"Your servant's knowledge is insufficient; I fear I would delay the princes' studies!" Lu Duoxun said with heavy misgivings.

Seeing his hesitation, Liu Chengyou let out two hearty laughs, then said: "I'll just have you serve as a temporary tutor. On the way back to the capital, tell them of your experiences journeying west and what you saw in Hexi. Children all love hearing stories—you can weave them well.

Additionally, I'll give you another task: after returning to court, coordinate with the Pacification Commission to write a 'Record of the Hexi Envoy.' It should be easy to understand and vividly told, then printed and published, so that the scholars and common folk of the realm may also learn of that vast homeland in the northwest!"

"As you command!" Hearing the emperor say this, Lu Duoxun breathed a sigh of relief and replied respectfully, the burden in his heart instantly lightened.

This teacher of his, when all was said and done, was merely a "storyteller," adding a bit of amusement to the princes' journey home, or achieving the effect of teaching through entertainment.

He carefully noted the emperor's inscrutable expression, and a flush of embarrassment welled up in his heart. He had, after all, taken it seriously just now—otherwise he wouldn't have been so anxious. Who wouldn't want to be teacher to the princes? Not to mention the future, even at present, the boost to one's reputation would be incalculable.

However, Lu Duoxun was too young. If the emperor truly made him teacher to the princes, setting aside everyone else, that old pedant Zhang Zhao, still lingering in the Eastern Capital, would dare to "rebel." Though Lu Duoxun was proud of his learning, he wasn't so arrogant as to lack self-awareness...

Also, he was eager to return home. From Hua County onward, the imperial procession encountered no further disturbances and quickened its pace. Only in Luoyang did they linger a few extra days. The Western Capital, under Wang Yan's governance, gave Liu Chengyou a strong sense of order. In the two years of his tenure, he had rectified many people, yet without the extremism of the Shi Hongzhao and Jing Fan era—the great city was not lacking in vitality.

Industries grew daily more prosperous, merchants and travelers increasingly thrived, and the people's livelihoods grew ever more secure. At the same time, Wang Yan had expended great effort repairing the city walls, renovating the streets and markets, and perfecting Luoyang's infrastructure. When Liu Chengyou arrived, construction projects were still visible in various parts of the city. Though not as extensive as Kaifeng's great renovations, the activity was considerable—and crucially, it had not required the court to allocate additional funds or grain, nor had it imposed harsh levies on the people. As for where the funds came from, naturally they came from the merchants, plus a portion of Luoyang's tax revenue.

During his brief stay in Luoyang, Liu Chengyou expressed extremely high praise for Wang Yan's achievements in governing Luoyang, and offered encouragement. Before departing, he restored Wang Yan's noble rank to Founding County Duke—both for his merits in governing Luoyang and for his earlier presentation of the "Heirloom Imperial Seal."

Thus, Wang Yan was finally at ease. He had naturally been resentful when, for clashing with Wang Jingchong at Jinzhou and besieging the imperial envoy with troops, he had been stripped of office and demoted in rank. Now, at last, he had been restored to ducal rank. The increase in salary grain was secondary; what mattered was status and face.

In the early autumn city of Kaifeng, though the climate still carried some heat, it had grown far more comfortable. On the Bian River, boats came and went with increasing frequency; in the streets and markets, the crowds grew denser; and the air was faintly suffused with the fragrance of flowers and fruit, intoxicating to the senses. The entire city radiated an air of prosperity.

"Your servants welcome Your Majesty back to court!" Before the imperial city, Chancellor Li Tao led the assembled ministers in bowing in greeting at the palace gates.

With the Son of Heaven returning to court, Liu Chengyou had ordered that the hundred officials need not go outside the city to welcome him, but the proper rites should not be discarded. Under Li Tao's initiative, the ministers simply gathered at the main gate of the imperial city.

"Ministers, no need for ceremony!" Liu Chengyou personally descended from his imperial carriage, appearing before the ministers' eyes, and extended his hand.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Having not seen one another for several months, upon first meeting, everyone seemed to have a renewed appearance. Gazing at the palace of Kaifeng, Liu Chengyou remarked with emotion: "Since departing on the spring tour, everywhere I look upon my return already shows signs of autumn!"

"In the months I was away, the stable operation of state affairs has all depended on you ministers!" Liu Chengyou said, his gaze falling upon the several chief ministers—Li, Fan, Wei, Xue, and Guo.

"These are all things your servants ought to do; we dare not claim merit!" Li Tao replied.

"Especially you, Minister Li—past sixty years of age, yet still untiring in governance, with even more white hairs among your locks. Truly admirable!" Looking at Li Tao, Liu Chengyou said with feeling.

Having said this, he re-boarded his carriage. Hearing his words, Li Tao was visibly taken aback.

"Move out!" At Zhang Dejun's high-pitched cry, the imperial carriage slowly entered the imperial city.

Li Tao snapped back to his senses, and led his people back to the offices, preparing official business for the Son of Heaven's inspection. However, a hint of heaviness unavoidably settled on his aged face. He certainly remembered his own age—he was still not yet sixty...