Chapter 919: A Young Crown Prince's Lot Is Not Easy

Harsh winters had always been difficult, but by enduring and enduring, they eventually passed. Throughout the entire eleventh year of Qianyou, everything in the entire East Asian region revolved fundamentally around the conflict and war between the Han and Liao states.

Although more than two months had passed without major combat, the war still continued, with both states still locked in fierce struggle along the border frontier. On the Great Han's side, there was naturally no intention of yielding, and likewise, Liao remained just as resolute, determined to fight to the end.

Time flowed on, and apart from the northern war, the Great Han entered the twelfth year of Qianyou smoothly and without incident. On the first day of the first month, Kaifeng once again bustled with activity, as citizens eagerly engaged in celebrations to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, as if releasing all the emotions pent up through the long winter in one burst. The crackling of firecrackers driving out the old year—such was the scene.

The Emperor remained in Youzhou directing the great northern campaign, so the grand court assembly of the first month was not held. Nevertheless, some celebratory activities did take place within the court, but because the state was engaged in a great expedition, no extravagance or waste was dared. Only a simple ceremony was held, in which imperial clansmen, relatives by marriage, dukes, and the hundred officials in the capital entered the palace to offer congratulations to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Eastern Palace.

Likewise, during this festival, officials of the central government could not be as relaxed as in previous years, especially those in important positions—for them, rest days were out of the question.

On the second day of the month, at Kunming Hall, Crown Prince Liu Yang came as usual to pay his respects to the Empress. Since being invested as Crown Prince, Liu Yang had moved to the Eastern Palace, and after half a year, he had basically adapted. However, his frequency of visits to Kunming Hall was by no means low. Apart from his attachment to his mother, it was also because the young Crown Prince needed his mother's support and reassurance.

After Liu Chengyou departed on his personal expedition, the Crown Prince oversaw state affairs in his stead—though only nominally. When the ministers handled state matters and court business, he basically sat in the main seat and listened.

Although he could hardly offer decisive opinions, the ministers would attach a copy of their memorials for him to read, as the Emperor had instructed before departing. Though he was the heir apparent, this was not easy for a ten-year-old child. Yet Liu Yang performed very earnestly, reading everything meticulously. When he encountered things he did not understand, he would respectfully ask questions, and after returning to the palace, if doubts remained, he would go to Kunming Hall to seek guidance from his mother.

In fact, Empress Fu's support for the Crown Prince's position was comprehensive. And the half year of life as Crown Prince had brought Liu Yang a qualitative improvement—his every move now carried the dignity of an heir apparent. Of course, this was also a boost brought by the change in his status.

However, this was not easy. Whenever he faced those senior ministers in the halls, watching them handle state affairs and listening to their disputes, Liu Yang often felt pressure. Even as merely a young Crown Prince, Liu Yang's schedule had already become complex and busy, no longer just studying and practicing martial arts as in previous years. Thus, from time to time, Liu Yang would choose to pour out his feelings to his mother, and generally, the elder Lady Fu would soothe and resolve them.

Before going to Kunming Hall, Liu Yang had first gone to pay respects to the Empress Dowager—this too was something the elder Lady Fu had taught him. A good image of an heir apparent needed to be cultivated and maintained from a young age. In fact, before being established as Crown Prince, Liu Yang had been quite happy, at least unlike the third son Liu Xi, for Empress Fu had not placed excessive pressure on him.

After the formal greetings, mother and son ate together. The Han palace without the Emperor always seemed to lack something, as could be seen from the Empress's emotional state. The elder Lady Fu was clearly somewhat sorrowful—not for any other reason, but because her elder brother, Commissioner of Palace Attendants Fu Zhaoxin, had passed away just five days earlier, dying very suddenly.

Fu Zhaoxin had fallen ill in the seventh year of Qianyou, nearly dying at the time. Liu Chengyou had personally sent imperial physicians and used fine medicines to save him. After recovering, he transferred from a military post to a civil one, successively serving as Prefect of Chenzhou, Prefect of Xuzhou, Director of the Palace Administration, and Commissioner of Palace Attendants.

Now, Fu Zhaoxin's sudden death was no small blow to the Fu clan. After all, although the Fu lineage was flourishing, the most distinguished branch—that of Fu Yanqing—had a problem.

Although Fu Yanqing had three sons, among those who had grown to adulthood and served as senior ministers at court, there was only Fu Zhaoxin, who had enjoyed considerable trust from the Emperor. Empress Fu's other two younger brothers were still young. Thus, Empress Fu was deeply grieved by Fu Zhaoxin's death—not only out of sibling affection, but also for certain political reasons.

"Mother, I want to attend Uncle's funeral in person!" Perhaps feeling distressed by his mother's sorrow, Liu Yang spoke up on his own initiative.

Hearing this, Empress Fu glanced at him and revealed a somewhat forced smile, looking quite satisfied with his conduct. Holding the tenth imperial prince, still an infant in swaddling clothes, in her arms, she unbuttoned her garment—her milk had been engorged lately with nowhere to expend it, so she simply nursed the child herself. The elder Lady Fu said: "Spring has come, and state affairs will become busy again. Following the ministers, you must listen attentively and learn well!"

"Duke of Lu is a senior minister of the Great Han, a trusted pillar relied upon by your father, who has always treated him with the courtesy due a teacher. Having him as your Grand Tutor is your good fortune. You must treat him with respect and courtesy, and seek his guidance often!" The elder Lady Fu added another instruction.

"Yes!" Liu Yang nodded and answered seriously.

The Emperor Liu Chengyou could hardly be said to have neglected Crown Prince Liu Yang, having appointed Wei Renpu to concurrently serve as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. To this day, Wei Renpu remained the minister Liu Chengyou trusted most.

He had also recalled Li Fang, who had served in the provinces for many years, to serve alongside Secretariat Drafter Dou Yan as guests of the Crown Prince. Li Fang was a close minister of the Son of Heaven, and Dou Yan was one of the "Five Dragons of the Dou Clan." Looking at Liu Chengyou's arrangements before and after, he held tremendous expectations for Crown Prince Liu Yang, truly wishing to cultivate him into a qualified heir apparent.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the ministers are already waiting in Guangzheng Hall. Chancellor Fan has sent word, requesting that the Crown Prince proceed there to attend to governance!" Shortly after breakfast was finished, a drafter came to report.

Hearing this, Liu Yang's small frame instinctively straightened, his entire demeanor turning serious—this had almost become a conditioned reflex. Empress Fu still looked at him with an encouraging gaze and said gently: "Go on!"

Liu Yang rose and respectfully took his leave.

In Guangzheng Hall, senior ministers had gathered, standing in small groups of two or three, conversing in low voices. Liu Chenghsun, Fan Zhi, Wei Renpu, Wang Pu, Xue Juzheng, along with Xiang Xun and Han Tong—these seven held the greatest power among the officials in Kaifeng during the Emperor's northern expedition. Of course, Prince Yong, Liu Chenghsun, was basically there to fill a seat and balance the numbers.

Fan Zhi appeared to be sighing deeply and repeatedly, which puzzled many. Minister of Personnel Shen Shihou asked him about it. Fan Zhi did not hide his thoughts and said directly: "The northern expedition has lasted nearly half a year. Supporting several hundred thousand troops at the frontier has exhausted the court's strength. Now spring has already arrived, yet the campaign shows no sign of ending. The field headquarters has again sent edicts urging more military supplies and conscripted labor—clearly we are about to delay spring plowing. The state is founded on its people, and the nation values agriculture; harming agriculture harms the foundation. If we miss the farming season, disaster may follow. His Majesty has been away from the capital for months, the capital is hollow, and I fear the people's hearts will grow restless..."

Clearly, regarding this northern expedition, ministers like Fan Zhi had begun to worry excessively again, displaying their concern for the state and the people. Of course, they were not crying wolf without cause—their concerns were well-founded. The price the court had paid to support the northern expedition was already enormous.

Not to mention the more than a hundred thousand soldiers and civilians killed or wounded over the course of the campaign, in terms of financial consumption alone, the court's expenditures of money and silk were counted in the hundreds of millions. After the pacification of Shu, the war dividends plundered from Shu were nearly exhausted.

The conscripted laborers mobilized exceeded one million. The grain and flour transported to Youzhou over the course of the campaign exceeded two million five hundred thousand dan, with transportation losses alone reaching six hundred thousand dan. To support the operations, even a portion of the Eastern Capital's official granary reserves had been tapped.

As of now, the Eastern Capital's official grain reserves were only sufficient for thirteen months of consumption by the capital's populace. It should be noted that, having learned from the early years' experience of grain shortages, Liu Chengyou placed great importance on the capital's grain reserves. From the tenth year of Qianyou onward, the Eastern Capital's official grain reserves had been sufficient to supply the entire population of Kaifeng for two years.

Thus, grain consumption reaching this level was already a danger signal for the Eastern Capital. Under such circumstances, the Emperor had again issued edicts ordering the Eastern Capital to continue raising and dispatching grain, weapons, and clothing...

After spring began, the great army in the north would need spring uniforms again—another enormous expenditure. It should be noted that to support the northern army through the winter, the supply of cloth and silk garments had consumed more than half of the official reserves, which had pained Fan Zhi, Xue Juzheng, and other ministers for a long time.

Now, the Emperor was preparing to launch another major offensive against the Khitan. Once fighting resumed, who knew how much longer it would drag on. If the war truly continued for long, domestic problems were bound to arise—this was almost certain.

When the Southern Tang was attacked in earlier years, although the campaign also lasted half a year from winter to spring, at that time the army could live off the enemy's land, and it was close to Huainan, so the Great Han could fully sustain it. But this time, the scale of mobilization was simply too great—the largest in decades. Having held on until now, the pressure on the Great Han had already reached a certain level. If they persisted further, they would begin to damage the state's vital strength...

Thus, recently, a trend of advocating for ending the war had inevitably arisen within the court. In fact, as early as last winter, some had suggested that the Emperor should quit while ahead, because after the great battle at Nankou, the Great Han's achievements had already been substantial—severely mauling the Liao army and retaking the Yan Mountain passes, greatly mending the holes in the northern defense line. Of the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun, only six—Yun, Shuo, Huan, Wei, Xin, and Wu—remained unrecovered. Under such circumstances, there was really no need to force a single decisive battle to accomplish everything...

Of course, if viewed purely from economic interests, the northern expedition against Liao was a losing proposition no matter how one calculated it. But this account was not to be reckoned that way.

The benefits of fully recovering Yanyun were not lost on ministers like Fan Zhi. It was just that when the price to be paid became too great and created hidden dangers domestically, they inevitably leaned toward conservatism.

However, when Emperor Liu Chengyou needed to be decisive, no one could sway his will. Thus, the efforts of Fan Zhi and the others were destined to be futile.

When Crown Prince Liu Yang arrived, the sound of discussion in Guangzheng Hall immediately ceased. The ministers each returned to their positions and performed the ceremonial bow. Although he was a young Crown Prince with no prestige to speak of, the respect due to him was not dared to be shortchanged in the slightest. Over the past decade or more, Liu Chengyou had placed great importance on the reconstruction of "ritual propriety." The reason Dou Yan had gradually gained the Emperor's favor was precisely because of his outstanding contributions to the Great Han's ritual code.

Liu Yang also appeared very humble, respectfully returning the ministers' salutes, then taking his seat, sitting upright with a composed expression, proper and measured, quietly waiting for the hall discussion to begin.

In fact, after half a year of contact, the ministers were quite satisfied with the Crown Prince's conduct. He respected them, was quick and eager to learn, humble toward his superiors, and behaved according to proper decorum. Thus, in the eyes of these ministers, he truly bore the bearing of an heir apparent—not merely because of his status.

As Fan Zhi presided over the beginning of the hall discussion, in Liu Yang's eyes, the quarreling and debating of a bunch of old men began once again. Especially Fan Zhi—his tone resolute, his attitude firm, and when he grew emotional, spittle nearly flew into Liu Yang's face...