Chapter 834: Arrangements, Another Veteran Departs

The Han emperor's cordial attitude put Li Hao at ease, a smile spreading across his aged face. After offering some flattery, he drew a booklet from his bosom and presented it with care.

Taking it from Sun Yanxi's hands, Liu Chengyou did not open it, but asked curiously: "What is this?"

A humble smile hung at the corners of Li Hao's mouth as he replied: "To answer Your Majesty, your servant, while in Chuanshu, had neither the virtue to promote education nor the smallest merit to claim, yet enjoyed every honor and emolument, clad in finery and feasting on delicacies—my heart is truly ashamed. Now that I have returned to the Central Plains and paid homage at court, I wish to offer my entire family fortune as a tribute, to honor my sovereign and father..."

Hearing his explanation, Liu Chengyou could not help but reveal a faintly amused smile. Looking at this old fellow, to say he was clever—indeed he was clever. In this Great Han, besides the Emperor himself, who else could truly guarantee his safety?

In Chengdu, having experienced soldiers barging in to extort him, Li Hao's "enlightenment" could be said to be considerable—parting with wealth to protect his family was the most correct choice. Moreover, with his family fortune, even if he gave away the greater part, it would still be enough for his family to live a life of luxury in the Eastern Capital.

Flipping it open and glancing over it briefly, there really was quite a lot—the long strings of figures for gold, silver, silk, and copper coinage would be enough to support ten thousand soldiers for a full year. As the Great Han now maintained its army, the annual expenses—pay, grain rations, spring and winter silks, cloth, and festival rewards—added up to roughly twenty-five strings per man per year.

Even by the tenth year of Qianyou, the Great Han court's annual fiscal revenue did not exceed fifteen million strings, yet nearly four-tenths of that expenditure went to military pay, equipment, and defense. To call the Great Han of today a military regime would not be an overstatement.

Had this been the early years of the state, Liu Chengyou would likely have been overjoyed—the fiscal straits and hardships of those days, he would never forget for the rest of his life. At the same time, he became even more certain that the officers and men who had pacified Shu had skimmed off quite a bit. If even Li Hao's single household was this wealthy, had it been a few years earlier, he absolutely would not have been able to resist moving against him.

Glancing at the somewhat uneasy Li Hao, Liu Chengyou gave him a reassuring response, handing the booklet to Sun Yanxi to put away, and said with a light laugh: "Rare indeed that Minister Li has such a sentiment. With such sincere kindness hard to decline, I shall gladly accept!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Hao bowed. Such was the way of gift-giving—when the recipient accepted, one still had to offer a thousand thanks and ten thousand gratitudes.

"All of you are worthy talents of Shu, many with real ability. Since you have come, the court should make proper arrangements for you!" Scanning the assembled Shu ministers, Liu Chengyou's expression turned somewhat serious, and he said: "Once you are settled in the Eastern Capital, you may go to the Ministry of Personnel to register. I shall shortly issue a decree to the Ministry of Personnel to employ the worthies present here according to their abilities!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" This time, it was the assembled Shu ministers who chorused their thanks and praise.

"And this one is?" After a few cups of wine, Liu Chengyou suddenly pointed at one person and asked.

What drew Liu Chengyou's attention was simple—youth. The Shu ministers paying homage were mostly old and decrepit, yet a single handsome young man had slipped in among them. Feeling the emperor's curious gaze, the man immediately rose and replied: "Your Majesty, your servant is Huang Jucai, who served the surrendered Shu as a Hanlin Academician-in-Waiting."

Li Hao took the initiative to explain to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, this young lord Huang is the third son of the great painter Huang Quan. Though young in years, he has deeply inherited his father's legacy, serving alongside him in the Chengdu court. His talent is remarkable, especially in flowers, bamboo, birds, mountain rocks, forests, and waterscapes. Beside him is Huang Quan, styled Yaoshu!"

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou's interest grew further, his gaze falling upon the elderly man beside Huang Jucai's table—a man lean and clear-eyed, with dignified bearing. His attitude immediately warmed, and he raised his cup in salute: "Master Huang is a great master of our age, with exquisite painting skill and a reputation that resounds throughout the realm. Even in the Eastern Capital, I have heard of you. To meet you today is truly my good fortune!"

"Your Majesty flatters me!" Huang Quan rose, bowing humbly as he said: "Your servant is but a decrepit old man, with neither the ability to govern the age nor the talent to administer the state. I only fiddle with brush and ink to amuse myself and entertain others—hardly worthy of the grand hall!"

"Master Huang is too modest!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and said: "There is truly no need for self-deprecation. It is precisely the wondrous brush in your hand that is needed to record the splendor of our Great Han for posterity!"

With the emperor saying this, Huang Quan's aged face brightened with spirit, a smile blooming as he praised: "Your Majesty's breadth of mind truly encompasses all rivers and seas!"

Huang Quan was a famous painter of this era, synthesizing the best of many schools to found his own style—truly a master of his generation. As for Liu Chengyou, it was only through the Wude Office's personnel reports that he had come to understand this old man's influence in scholarly circles. The Great Han court happened to lack such people as well, and cultural prosperity and flourishing also required all schools and factions to exert their strength together.

After brief consideration, Liu Chengyou said to Huang Quan: "The Culture Hall is still short of a painting instructor. If Master Huang does not disdain it, you may enter the palace and teach my imperial princes to paint!"

Hearing this, Huang Quan was somewhat overwhelmed by the honor and hurriedly bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Huang Quan had been a court painter in Chuanshu, spending his days in the palace attending upon Meng Chang. Though his painting skill was exquisite, his style was deeply influenced by court conventions—ornate, opulent, and elegant. Once in the Eastern Capital, only the grandeur of the Han palace would likely allow him to integrate quickly.

Therefore, hearing Liu Chengyou's personal arrangement, he had not the slightest intention of refusing—indeed, he was somewhat delighted. Of course, becoming a teacher to the Great Han's imperial princes—so long as one had the ability and the credentials, no one would refuse. Who knew, one might even become a "teacher of emperors" for a generation. For a surrendered minister like him, it was an even greater honor.

Liu Chengyou was clearly quite satisfied with Huang Quan's attitude. In his daily dealings he could not help but put on airs somewhat, but he did not like others being affected or feigning reserve before him. He greatly appreciated the frankness of a great master like Huang Quan.

Turning his gaze to the young Huang Jucai, Liu Chengyou said: "Your father and you, two generations devoted to the art of painting, with a family tradition passed down, and both serving in the palace together—that is quite a fine tale. Since you were a Hanlin Academician-in-Waiting in Shu, now that you have come to the capital, I shall grant you the same post—you may enter the Hanlin Academy!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hearing this, Huang Jucai also respectfully expressed his gratitude.

Seeing the Huang father and son receive their appointments, the Shu ministers present all showed varying degrees of envy. Li Hao was no exception—after all, he had donated so much of his family fortune and still had no position settled for himself, while the Huangs had already been arranged for, both with generous posts, and personally announced by the Son of Heaven of Han. This was enough to inspire envy, even jealousy.

Liu Chengyou sat high at the main table, observing the varied expressions of the surrendered ministers, and found it all quite amusing. The Huang father and son were merely examples he had put forward as models, to attract and reassure the scholarly world—they had to receive some special treatment.

As for himself, he actually had little interest in painting and calligraphy, nor was he a man who chased after cultural pretensions. With Liu Chengyou's taste, if a celebrated masterpiece were placed before him, he could probably only describe it as "pretty" or "a famous work"—as for technique, deeper meaning, and such, he could not appreciate them in the slightest.

As for Li Hao, Liu Chengyou disliked him from the bottom of his heart. Setting aside everything else, as the Shu chancellor, Liu Chengyou knew his background completely. Just the million in family wealth he had amassed in Chuanshu was enough to prevent Liu Chengyou from feeling any goodwill toward him. That he had not been purged by circumstance, had entered the Eastern Capital, and had wisely dispersed his wealth for his own safety—that was already Emperor Liu's magnanimity.

The banquet at Wansui Hall lasted only about half a shichen in total before being dismissed. Liu Chengyou, well-fed and satisfied with wine, strolled leisurely among the palace halls, basking in the winter sun.

The weather was still cold, but the north wind was no longer so bitter. Bathing in the winter sun was truly a rare pleasure. However, this leisure did not last long before it was interrupted by news of a death.

"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Guangyang's old illness flared up, and he has passed away at his residence!"

The Marquis of Guangyang, Zhao Hongyin, had originally been a senior general of the Later Jin's imperial army. In the early years of the Han, he had submitted to the Founding Ancestor and been appointed a great general. He had participated in suppressing bandits in the Central Plains, pacifying the rebellion at Yedu, resisting the Later Shu, campaigning against Li Shouzhen, and the great battle of Huainan. Though never the leading figure, the merits he had accumulated over the long years were considerable.

The Guo family had two Dukes in one household; the Zhao family had two marquises (Zhao Kuangyin had previously been granted the title Marquis of Jishan for his military merits). Of course, this was not without the vigorous promotion of Emperor Liu of Han.

Last year, due to the Shu rebellion in Guanzhong, he had suppressed it while ill, then resigned his post to return to the capital with Liu Chengyou to recuperate. He had survived last winter, but now, just as this year's cold was about to depart, he had passed away. Thinking of it, one could not help but feel regret.

Zhao Hongyin was a veteran general through and through—resolute and skilled in battle. Because he had such an outstanding son, his own fame was not prominent, but whether in official history or in the Han army of today, his reputation was not low.

At this moment, suddenly hearing of his death, Liu Chengyou could not help but feel a pang of sorrow in his heart, saying: "Why is Heaven so unkind, to take another of my great generals!"

Thinking of Zhao Kuangyin, still in Shu, perhaps he should show a trace of remorse as well. After a moment's thought, Liu Chengyou raised a finger and instructed: "Record this: the Marquis of Guangyang, Zhao Hongyin, loyal, upright, stern, and resolute—a veteran general of the state. Now he has unfortunately passed away, and I mourn him deeply. Let him be posthumously enfeoffed as Commandery Duke of Guangyang, with the additional title of Director of the Chancellery, and the posthumous name Wuyi. All expenses for the Zhao household's funeral shall be borne by the court."

"Yes!"

After a pause, Liu Chengyou added: "His son Zhao Kuangyi shall be granted the rank of Cloud Rider Commandant and enter the palace to serve in office!"

Speaking of which, Zhao the Second was nearly of age as well.