Chapter 988: The Great General

"What happened?" Noticing Sun the Yan army's unusual expression, Liu Chengyou raised an eyebrow.

Sun the Yan army instinctively lowered his head a bit, clasped his hands, and reported: "The visitor is a junior officer under the Commander-in-Chief of Yannan. According to his report, Commander Ma's old wound has flared up again—on the eighteenth of this month, he passed away!"

"What! Say that again!" Caught off guard by the news, Liu Chengyou took a moment to react, then abruptly turned his head, staring fixedly at Sun the Yan army with a gaze that seemed to carry killing intent, intimidating to behold.

Sun the Yan army bowed even lower and carefully repeated himself.

His face twitched a few times. Liu Chengyou couldn't help but press his hand to his forehead, his emotions slightly stirred. After a pause to compose himself, he asked: "Where is the messenger?"

"Your Majesty, he is still at the Bureau of Military Affairs. Shall I summon him to Qionglin Garden?" Sun the Yan army requested instructions.

"Return to the palace!" Liu Chengyou said no more, rising and walking out.

Behind him, Liu Yang, Guo Congyi, and others who had also heard the news wore grave expressions. They exchanged glances and hurried to follow.

Commander Ma, of course, referred to the Emperor's beloved general, Ma Quanyi. After the Northern Expedition, he had been promoted by merit to Commandery Duke of Fufeng and Commander-in-Chief of Yannan, responsible for the Great Han's military deployment in the Yannan Circuit, consolidating public order and defending against the Khitan.

It could be said that after the Northern Expedition, Liu Chengyou had bestowed upon Ma Quanyi all the status and honor he deserved—such depth of favor that it was almost excessive. Of course, there was inevitably some personal partiality on Liu Chengyou's part, for Ma Quanyi was the earliest general to follow him, and over more than a decade, he had never once betrayed that trust.

And Ma Quanyi's death also originated from the Northern Expedition. Back then, striving to distinguish himself, he fought too fiercely, enduring several bitter battles and suffering numerous wounds. Especially during the assault on Yu Pass, he personally went beneath the walls to observe the enemy and direct the fighting, and was struck by a stray arrow that wounded his lung. From then on, a chronic ailment took root. Though he received treatment and rest, it never fully healed—though it never caused any major problems either.

This sudden collapse and death came about when Ma Quanyi, after inspecting Yu Pass, took up hunting on the return journey, fell from his horse, and was injured. At first there was no great concern, but upon returning to Youzhou, his condition worsened as the old wound flared up again, plunging him into unconsciousness. There was no time to save him—he passed within a day...

In Wansui Hall, learning from the envoy's account of Ma Quanyi's death from illness, Liu Chengyou's emotions were extremely complicated—grief, regret, sorrow, and more besides.

Looking at the messenger, who still wore white mourning bands on his head, Liu Chengyou waved his hand and instructed Sun the Yan army: "Grant him fifty thousand in cash and arrange for him to rest!"

"Yes!"

"Your Majesty, please restrain your grief!" In the hall, Wei Renpu, Li Chuyun, and others were also present. Seeing Liu Chengyou so deeply grieved, they could not help but offer consolation.

"He was not yet forty years old!" Liu Chengyou said.

The ministers fell silent for a moment. Most felt regret at Ma Quanyi's death, for he was a great general of one region, cut down in the prime of life. After pondering for a while, Liu Chengyou said in a deep voice: "Issue the decree—suspend court for three days, posthumously elevate the Commandery Duke of Fufeng to Duke of Ji, and direct the Yannan Circuit to properly handle his funeral arrangements. All expenses shall be borne by the government!"

"Yes!"

"I am tired. All of you may withdraw!" Waving his hand, Liu Chengyou looked dispirited as he dismissed the assembled ministers.

Seeing the Emperor in low spirits, the several ministers tactfully withdrew. At the same time, they could not help but feel moved by the bond between sovereign and subject that Liu Chengyou and Ma Quanyi had shared.

Because of Ma Quanyi's death, the court in the Eastern Capital was noticeably tinged with sorrow—though this was more a lament for the untimely passing of a meritorious general.

The sun continued to spread its spring warmth, shining on people cozily, as if it could dispel the gloom. Before Wansui Hall, on the steps, Liu Chengyou sprawled lazily in a reclining chair, gently rocking.

"Your Majesty!"

The Empress's voice called him back from his thoughts. Opening his eyes, he saw the elder Lady Fu curtsying gracefully. Gesturing to her, Liu Chengyou said: "Sit!"

The elder Lady Fu seated herself with an elegant posture, her body close beside him, bringing a waft of fragrant breeze and a sense of tranquility to Liu Chengyou.

"Is Your Majesty still grieving over the Duke of Ji's passing?" The elder Lady Fu reached out, intimately stroking Liu Chengyou's forehead, then began to massage it gently, hoping to ease his mood.

In truth, Liu Chengyou had already recovered from Ma Quanyi's death. Up to this point, there seemed to be nothing in this world that could weigh on Liu Chengyou's mind for long without release. Of course, the pang of regret over Ma Quanyi's death was genuine.

Still, hearing the elder Lady Fu say this, Liu Chengyou replied in a wistful tone: "How could I not be sad!"

Opening his eyes, Liu Chengyou looked at the Empress and said to her: "Elder Lady Fu! Ma Quanyi was different from others. He was not just my subject and beloved general—he was my close friend, my brother.

In talent, he was not the most outstanding; in achievements, he was not the highest. Yet he was the earliest general to follow me. In the early years, he was at my side through thick and thin, risking life and limb. After the founding of the state, he also endured loneliness, working tirelessly without complaint—a pillar general of the northern frontier.

It can be said that among the old companions of Jinyang, he was the one who walked the farthest with me. His passing is certainly regrettable, but I am also thinking—knowing he had wounds, why did I still entrust him with frontier defense duties, letting him bear the toil of military affairs? If I had let him rest and recuperate for a year or two, perhaps the outcome would have been different?"

Hearing these words, the elder Lady Fu was somewhat surprised. She truly had not expected that a single Ma Quanyi could hold such a high place in the Emperor's heart. As if she had discovered yet another side of Liu Chengyou, the elder Lady Fu thought for a moment, then said gently: "The departed are gone. You should not blame yourself too much!"

Seeing him listless, the elder Lady Fu took the initiative: "Second Lord, if your heart is uneasy, you can treat the Duke of Ji's descendants well!"

At this, Liu Chengyou nodded, but then suddenly realized something and said: "I heard he only has one son!"

With that, he immediately instructed Sun the Yan army: "Summon Li Chongju!"

Before long, Commissioner of the Wude Office Li Chongju arrived hurriedly. Dispensing with his formal obeisance, Liu Chengyou looked directly at him and asked: "What is the situation with the Duke of Ji's family?"

Having been prepared for this question, Li Chongju immediately reported: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Ji has but one son, named Huaiyu, only seven years old. His wife died early, leaving no mistress of the household. Within the five degrees of mourning, he has only two cousins of the same clan!"

Hearing this account, Liu Chengyou's brow immediately furrowed, and he said: "So you're saying that Ma Huaiyu is now alone and helpless?"

"Exactly so!" Li Chongju reported.

Liu Chengyou could not help but sigh. Looking at the Empress, he said: "Fortunately, you reminded me. Otherwise, even if this young Ma inherits his title and property, being a young orphan, how could he protect them? If the court were to neglect this matter, it would inevitably be plundered by petty villains and greedy types..."

"This Ma Huaiyu, at such a tender age, has lost both father and mother. Hearing of it, one cannot help but feel compassion. Second Lord, this child is the descendant of a meritorious founding minister—he should be properly provided for!" The elder Lady Fu advised Liu Chengyou.

Nodding in agreement, Liu Chengyou pondered briefly, then instructed: "Send word to Youzhou—once the Duke of Ji's funeral is concluded, escort his son to the Eastern Capital. I shall have someone raise him!"

"In that case, the Duke of Ji, knowing this in the underworld, will rest in peace and be grateful for Your Majesty's grace!" Li Chongju said.

In truth, Liu Chengyou had originally considered raising the boy in the palace himself, but after weighing the matter, he remained hesitant. North of the palace, before Xuanwu Gate, the Great Han court actually maintained a special establishment called the Zhangde Camp, dedicated to taking in the orphaned children of fallen soldiers. Since its founding, it had grown to over seven hundred people.

Of course, most of these were the offspring of mid- and lower-ranking officers or common soldiers. By comparison, Ma Huaiyu was clearly a special case, and whether to place him in the Zhangde Camp for nurturing was a point of some deliberation.

Speaking of it, there was a slight irony—Liu Chengyou prided himself on treating Ma Quanyi as a confidant and brother, yet he had overlooked the circumstances of his household...

After handling Ma Quanyi's funeral affairs, another matter presented itself before him: who would succeed as Commander-in-Chief of Yannan. Compared to the Shanyang Circuit, the situation in Yannan was much better, but the court still attached great importance to it. After several comparisons, Liu Chengyou ultimately approved the candidate recommended by Murong Yanzhao—the veteran general Zhang Xun. As for the other nominated frontier generals such as Li Hanqiong and Ma Renyu, their seniority was still insufficient.