Chapter 833: Ministers of Shu

That night, Liu Chengyou slept in Kunming Hall, and it was not until the next day, after the emperor and empress had shared their morning meal and the winter sun had climbed high, that he finally made his way to Chongzheng Hall.

Though he seemed unconcerned, he was still mindful of Fan Zhi's request for an audience the day before. Upon arriving at the hall, Liu Chengyou immediately summoned Guo Tong to inquire: "Yesterday, Chancellor Fan sought an audience—what did he present?"

At the question, Guo Tong efficiently pulled out a memorial and said: "The Hall of State Affairs has finished compiling the registers for Chuanshu, reporting on its prefectures, counties, population, arable land, granaries, and the like."

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou's interest was immediately piqued, and he said directly to Guo Tong: "Give me a rundown first!"

"Yes!" At that, Guo Tong spread open the memorial and said: "In this pacification of Shu, the court has gained 1 prefecture-administration, 45 prefectures, 237 counties, and 498,946 households. In the seventh year of Qianyou, the court already took Xingzhou and Xingyuan Prefecture, with an additional 7 counties and 42,580 households..."

Before Guo Tong could finish reading, Liu Chengyou interrupted him, saying: "These figures are all based on the Shu regional government's archives, aren't they?"

"Exactly so!" Guo Tong nodded.

"Set it aside!" Liu Chengyou's interest suddenly waned greatly, saying: "Those must differ from the actual situation in Chuanshu now—just the Shu rebellion alone must have caused who knows how much change. Hmm, instruct the Hall of State Affairs to obtain accurate population and land figures. Without clarifying these, how can we govern it?"

"Yes!"

"What else?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Regarding the arrangements for officials in the Chuanshu circuit, the Hall of State Affairs and the Bureau of Military Affairs have already made their recommendations. The Bureau of Military Affairs has additionally attached proposals for troop reorganization and garrisoning in the Chuanshu region!" Under Liu Chengyou's gaze, Guo Tong reported: "It is proposed that Imperial Son-in-law Song Yanwo serve as Administration Commissioner, Dou Yi as Judicial Commissioner, Wang Quanbin as Chief Commander, and Zhang Mei as Fiscal Commissioner..."

Guo Tong found that he could barely finish reading the memorial before being interrupted by the emperor again. Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then said: "The vast region of Chuanshu—isn't setting up just one circuit too large?"

"What instructions does Your Majesty have?" Guo Tong asked.

"It must be split!" Liu Chengyou said affirmatively: "Send my intentions in a document to the Hall of State Affairs. Lizhou and the area to its north, encompassing Feng, Cheng, and Jie prefectures along with Ankang Prefecture, may form one circuit. South of Jianzhou, make another division. The merging or abolishing of the remaining prefectures and counties may be decided according to circumstances!"

"Yes!"

According to Liu Chengyou's thinking, splitting the former territory of Meng Shu into three circuits would create checks and balances, reducing the hidden danger of separatist regimes. After all, that territory was truly too vast... For the officials of the Han court, they would probably also be pleased to see it, since it meant a large number of high-ranking circuit posts and frontier-governor positions had opened up.

Turning his head, he looked at the Chuanshu map that had been hanging in the hall for a long time, pointed with his hand, and instructed: "Convey my order to Guo Rong, have him prepare a report on the progress of pacifying the rebellion in Chuanshu—I wish to hear it!"

Time was about to cross into the eleventh year of Qianyou, and the National Day was approaching. A deadline had previously been set for the generals pacifying Shu, and although it was hard to control, he would not actually punish anyone merely for being slow in putting down the rebellion—but if it could be done perfectly, that would naturally be best.

"Anything else?" He looked curiously at Guo Tong, who had received the order but had not moved.

Guo Tong said: "Former ministers of Shu, over twenty of them led by Li Hao, have arrived at the Eastern Capital. They have submitted a memorial to the palace, hoping for an audience. Will Your Majesty receive them?"

"Is that the Li family that has submitted surrender memorials for generations?" Liu Chengyou asked with a hint of amusement.

"Exactly so!"

Li Hao's reputation had clearly already spread—not only in Shu, but among the Han court officials in the Eastern Capital as well, many of whom had opinions on the matter, though most held a mocking attitude.

Among the former ministers of Chuanshu, aside from those dealt with by the Han army, another portion had been screened and relocated to the Eastern Capital. Perhaps because they thought Meng Chang, the surrendered ruler, was lonely alone in Kaifeng, they found him some companions.

These Shu ministers who entered the capital counted as lucky survivors of the Han army's "expropriation" policy—their families and property had been protected. The only "big tiger" among them was Li Hao, who was simply dripping with wealth. According to reports, when Li Hao's family traveled north to the capital, they had to rent over a dozen large ships just to load everything, and that did not even include the vast tracts of land and estates. The wealth of his household was staggering.

As the saying goes, wealth should not be displayed, but Li Hao had no choice but to display it. Once he left Chengdu, everything his family owned in Chuanshu would be abandoned—even if he did not want to give it up, he could not keep it, for the court would not permit it. As for his other wealth, the authorities had decreed temporary leniency and would not seize it—that was already great grace. However, even so, to move that enormous family fortune into the Eastern Capital, Li Hao had paid an immense price, and if he settled in Kaifeng, he would also have to play the role of a scatterer of wealth.

Liu Chengyou guessed that Li Hao's eagerness to seek an audience was also to obtain a life-protecting talisman from him—one that would protect both his life and his wealth.

Those who came with Li Hao were mostly civil officials of the Meng Shu, and moreover, their literati nature outweighed their official nature. Among them were Ouyang Jiong, Lu Qianyi, Mao Wenxi, Han Cong, Yan Xuan, Huang Quan and his son, Ruan Weide and his son, and others. Under Meng Chang's rule of Shu, literary affairs in Chengdu had developed enormously, flourishing as never before. These men were skilled in poetry or calligraphy and painting, all people of considerable renown.

At this moment, hearing Guo Tong mention it, Liu Chengyou's interest was somewhat piqued, and he responded: "They have come from afar with their entire families, and they count as celebrated scholars. As the host, I might as well see them."

"Sun Yanxi!" Liu Chengyou called.

"This humble one is here!"

"Did you hear that? Those Shu ministers—make the arrangements, I want to see them!" Liu Chengyou said.

"May I ask His Majesty when and where the audience will take place?" Sun Yanxi cautiously requested.

After considering for a moment, Liu Chengyou instructed: "In the afternoon, at Wansui Hall—set up a banquet!"

"Yes!"

Should he summon Meng Chang as well? Such a thought floated through Liu Chengyou's mind, but after thinking it over, he abandoned the idea. It was said that ever since the two concubines Xu and Li had been taken into the Han palace, Meng Chang had sunk even deeper into depravity—drinking daily, indulging in wine and women, utterly degenerate.

Not summoning Meng Chang was not out of fear of awkwardness, but rather because there was no need to disturb the peaceful life of the man. Come to think of it, since favoring the two consorts Xu and Li that day, Liu Chengyou had not visited them again, and had even rarely paid attention to the consorts of his harem. Hmm, he needed to abstain, to nurture his health, to maintain his image...

"Your ministers kowtow to Your Majesty!" In the afternoon, with the winter sunlight dim, Liu Chengyou sat in Wansui Hall with a faint, peaceful smile on his lips, receiving the kowtows of a group of Shu ministers.

"Rise, all of you!" Liu Chengyou waved his dragon sleeve.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The group of civil officials, in perfect unison, were all exceptionally reverent in demeanor.

"All of you, take your seats!" Liu Chengyou maintained a somewhat dignified bearing, seated high at the main table, and said with a faint smile: "You have all traveled a thousand li by boat and carriage, and in the dead of winter at that—truly no easy feat. I have prepared some modest wine here, as a welcome banquet to wash the dust from your journey and reward your toil!"

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" The group bowed again.

Raising his cup to invite them to drink, whetting their appetites, Liu Chengyou said with a somewhat feigned smile: "Since the late Tang, martial affairs have flourished while literary affairs have declined. War arose in the northern lands, and the flames of conflict never ceased. Many northern scholars fled south to take refuge. Over the past thirty years, literary education in Shu has flourished, its fame resounding across the realm. All of you seated here are among its finest, men of considerable reputation. Now that you have entered the court, my Wansui Hall has gained much literary grace—it shines with your presence. This is truly my honor!"

Liu Chengyou's expression was very gentle, his tone very cordial, but in his heart there was not a single ripple. Likewise, although the Son of Heaven of Han praised the civil officials highly, they did not dare take it seriously. Li Hao rose, bowed at a ninety-degree angle, and responded: "Your Majesty overpraises us—we truly do not deserve it. We have dwelt in a remote corner of the southwest for many years, and now are fortunate to return to the Central Plains, to pay homage at the dragon court, to behold the heavenly countenance, to admire the heroic bearing of a great sovereign and feel the transformative virtue of a sage ruler—this is our true fortune!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help but chuckle, looking at this old man and saying: "You are Li Hao, styled Qiongzuo, are you not?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, this humble minister is indeed he!" Li Hao showed himself to be quite self-aware, always regarding himself as a subject. One must know that these people still counted as "ministers of a fallen state"—until they were given official posts or other arrangements, they were not yet considered accepted by the Han court.

Appraising Li Hao—his back slightly hunched, perhaps due to age, his appearance hard to look at directly, the very image of a "crafty minister"—Liu Chengyou did not write his contempt on his face. Instead, he appeared very magnanimous: "I have long heard of your reputation, Lord Li..."