Chapter 956: Untitled

On the first night back in the capital, Liu Chengyou naturally lodged in Kunming Hall, staying together with the elder Lady Fu — there was no question about that. When it came time to retire, between husband and wife, even if it could not be called blazing fire and dry kindling, a bout of clouds and rain was inevitably unavoidable.

The elder Lady Fu had already turned thirty, her countenance still dignified and beautiful, her bearing ever more noble and graceful, her figure increasingly ripe and alluring, quite pleasing to the touch. Gently stroking her skin, Liu Chengyou sighed softly: "During the days I was away, you have worked hard!"

Liu Chengyou's tone carried a hint of guilt. In the early years, when Liu Chengyou left the capital, it was the Empress Dowager who sat in Kaifeng and soothed the harem; relying on her status as Empress Dowager and Mother of the Nation, along with her reputation for virtue, she was sufficient to maintain stability.

However, as Lady Li advanced in years and her health declined from previous days, Empress Fu gradually stepped into this role, shouldering this responsibility. Never mind the Crown Prince overseeing the state and the high ministers assisting in governance — the true stabilizing anchor was Empress Fu, hidden within the harem. Although she, from beginning to end, never set foot in the outer court, her influence had always been present.

Hearing her husband's words at this moment, a smile curled at the corners of the elder Lady Fu's lips, and she only replied softly: "Now that you have returned, all is well! When you are not in the Eastern Capital, there are inevitably waves upon the court!"

"This northern expedition has tired me as well; henceforth I shall not lightly leave the Eastern Capital!" Liu Chengyou said thus.

"If that can be so, it is the blessing of the court and all the realm's ministers and people!" said the elder Lady Fu.

Hearing her speak thus, Liu Chengyou assumed a languid posture and smiled: "Tell me, where is this emperor of mine easy? Every move and gesture can be tied to the stability of the state and the well-being of the people — truly, there is not a shred of freedom!"

"Is His Majesty implying that I talk too much?" The elder Lady Fu's phoenix brows knitted slightly as she spoke in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyou hastily said: "If the same words were spoken by those remonstrance officials of the outer court, I would only find them repetitive and tiresome. But spoken from your lips, I cannot help but listen!"

"If His Majesty speaks thus, I cannot bear the weight of it!" Although Liu Chengyou's words were comforting, the elder Lady Fu still said with a modest smile.

Many times, the effect of pillow talk operates imperceptibly. Even Liu Chengyou, who prided himself on his sagacity, did not realize that he too was influenced by pillow talk.

"The matter of Brother Fu..." Liu Chengyou brought up the affair of Fu Zhaoxin again.

The elder Lady Fu's spirits also sank, and she said: "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are also the decree of heaven. I only worry that my father, losing a son in his old age, ah..."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou also sighed: "This is precisely what I feel guilty about. When Brother Fu passed, my father-in-law was still leading troops on the front lines, suppressing his grief to serve the state. Now that this great war has concluded, he is exhausted in body and mind. Now that he has finally returned to the capital, I intend to let the old gentleman rest well for a period, no longer burdened by official duties!"

Liu Chengyou's words sounded like good intentions, and the purpose seemed fine, but upon careful scrutiny, there was inevitably something amiss. The elder Lady Fu was perceptive and sensed it, but precisely because she was clever, she did not show it. Instead, she thanked him on behalf of Fu Yanqing, expressing gratitude for his consideration.

The next morning, Liu Chengyou rose very early, and after a brief tidying up, went to Chongzheng Hall. On the imperial desk, a pile of memorials was already laid out. However, what Liu Chengyou examined first was the report from the Wude Office, listening to Li Chongju's briefing.

As usual, Li Chongju stood quietly and properly in the hall, his expression calm, his bearing steady, awaiting the emperor's inquiries. Liu Chengyou sat behind the desk, continuously flipping through the Wude Office's records — in nine months' time, quite a number of things had indeed happened in the Eastern Capital and throughout the realm. Liu Chengyou read through them as if reading a story, occasionally smiling knowingly, revealing somewhat "peculiar" smiles.

Contrary to Li Chongju's expectations, Liu Chengyou did not carefully interrogate him about his report. Instead, he set down the secret files he had not finished reading and said to Li Chongju: "I shall not read further for now! Next, activate the Wude Office's spies in Liao to keep timely understanding of their situation!"

"Yes!" Li Chongju immediately acknowledged.

"Also, from now on, external intelligence gathering should focus mainly on Jiangnan and Liaodong!" Liu Chengyou further instructed.

Though Li Chongju came from a military background, he had always possessed insight. After a moment's thought, he could basically discern the Great Han's next strategic direction, and bowed once more: "Yes!"

The Great Han's intelligence apparatus, through years of development, had already formed a situation where the Military Intelligence Office handled external affairs and the Wude Office handled internal affairs. The Military Intelligence Office was attached to the Bureau of Military Affairs, mainly responsible for military intelligence. Throughout the Great Han's wars of unification, it had continuously demonstrated its value with no small merit, and Liu Chengyou already planned to separate it from the Bureau of Military Affairs.

The Wude Office went without saying — it was a comprehensive secret service organization. Although it was mainly for internal surveillance, externally it was not without achievements. For instance, in matters concerning Liao, it had also invested no small effort. After all, for a secret intelligence agency, one must always have some understanding of the Great Han's primary enemy.

Additionally, there was the later-established Palace City Office, which mainly served imperial authority, answerable only to the emperor. Its purview had been further subdivided, targeting mainly the palace, the various court offices, and investigating all persons or matters that threatened imperial authority. Even the Wude Office and the Military Intelligence Office were subjects of its investigations.

These three could be considered the ones in the open. Of course, there was also a secret organization — that one named "Xiao." It had no overt organizational structure, hidden in the shadows, lurking within various offices, mostly in key positions. Moreover, beneath their overt positions, they held additional ranks bestowed by the emperor. This could be considered Liu Chengyou's final safeguard for maintaining imperial authority — perhaps somewhat idealistic, but at least it allowed him to feel at ease.

"Your Majesty, the ministers and generals are already waiting outside the hall!" Sun Yanxi entered and reported to Liu Chengyou.

Coming back to himself, Liu Chengyou dismissed Li Chongju while instructing: "Summon them!"

During Liu Chengyou's northern expedition, the Great Han's center of power had shifted to the Hall of State Affairs, with all important affairs and major deliberations taking place in Guangzheng Hall. Now that Liu Chengyou had returned to court, it naturally shifted back to Chongzheng Hall — or rather, back to where the emperor was — and those assisting ministers of state all tactfully came to Chongzheng Hall to discuss state affairs.

Beneath the eaves of Chongzheng Hall, the various chancellors, principal officials of the various ministries, the commanders of the two armies, and the three princes Fu, An, and Zhao had already gathered awaiting summons. Their expressions were all relatively relaxed, save for one person who looked somewhat grave.

Who was this person? Fan Zhi, chancellor of the Great Han! Indeed, Chancellor Fan had begun worrying about the state and its people again. And what he worried about was also not something easily spoken aloud.

After this victory, the emperor's prestige had risen further, reaching the point of holding the cosmos in hand and treading heaven and earth. If it was already so now, then when the south was pacified and the realm unified, what kind of might would that be? At that time, I fear all the realm's ministers and people would prostrate themselves at the feet of the Great Han Emperor, relying on his radiance and grace to survive.

To be fair, imperial power being overly strong was not necessarily a good thing for the state. In these past few days, some had already proposed that the emperor's achievements surpassed all ages — having won a great victory over Liao and recovered Youyun — and that he could go to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan sacrifices.

To this, Fan Zhi directly expressed opposition. In his view, the realm was not yet unified — how could there be qualification to perform Fengshan? As a result, Chancellor Fan came under attack from others again, and the impeaching memorials Liu Chengyou had already read...

Upon entering Chongzheng Hall, Fan Zhi immediately suppressed the worries in his heart. Because there were quite a few people, several extra seats had been specially added. After the formal greetings, sweeping his gaze over the assembled civil and military officials, Liu Chengyou spoke: "Today I have summoned you all for no other reason than to summarize the northern expedition!"

Having said this, he looked toward Fan Zhi: "Minister Fan, while I was still in Youzhou, you repeatedly submitted memorials saying the war could not continue, that the state could not bear the burden. On my journey back to the capital, I also observed the people's livelihood in Hebei. Let you speak first — what was the cost to the court of this northern expedition?"

Liu Chengyou's words left Fan Zhi somewhat embarrassed. At the side, Dong Chun, the former top scholar of that year, was recording with his brush. In recent years, Liu Chengyou had tasked people with recording the affairs of his governance with the worthy ministers of the Qianyou era, so that they could be compiled into a book to promote their achievements.