Chapter 1510: Shared Joy in Peace

"As long as you're happy, that's what matters, isn't it? You are Goryeo's ambassador and a member of the Goryeo royal house. If you are pleased, can the King be displeased?" The Emperor still wore a faint smile. He waved a hand dismissively. "Then it's settled. Make your preparations in the coming days. In the second or third month, the Crown Prince will set out for Goryeo. You need only notify your country; the embassy there will also prepare. When the time comes, you will accompany the Crown Prince to Goryeo. A heavy responsibility rests on your shoulders, Ambassador Li. I must trouble you. However, our dynasty has always been generous to those who render service. Even for a foreign minister, so long as there is merit, rewards will be given as they are due."

Li Ke was no longer listening to the words that followed. He knew this was an edict that brooked no doubt. Even if it was a humiliation, he could only swallow it. With the most humble attitude, he had to try and salvage a little benefit for his homeland. Even the smallest benefit could let Goryeo breathe a little easier under the crushing pressure.

"It is only right and proper for my humble country to revere the Celestial Dynasty. How could this foreign minister dare ask for any reward... This foreign minister only begs the Celestial Dynasty to do its utmost... to minimize the requisition of Goryeo's resources. After all, my humble country is but a tiny state, truly unable to sustain the military supplies needed for a great war..." Li Ke boldly pleaded with the Son of Heaven. He knew he was already in some danger, but still knelt without hesitation. "I beseech Your Majesty to show compassion for your tributary state!"

To Li Ke's surprise, his words did not anger the Son of Heaven of the Central Dynasty. Instead, the Emperor nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Li Ke's opinion.

"You are right. Goryeo is a small country with impoverished people and scarce resources. To requisition too many supplies from Goryeo would indeed be forcing the impossible and damaging to the Celestial Dynasty's dignity. Therefore, it is precisely to prevent Goryeo from being overwhelmed by requisitions that I am specially sending the Crown Prince to oversee matters. Aside from some grain, the Great Han will not take too many things from Goryeo. Munitions and military funds will be transported and borne by the Great Han itself. Furthermore, after the war, the supplies requisitioned by our dynasty will be compensated at a fair price. So, I must trouble you, Ambassador Li. Rest assured, with the Crown Prince present, the great army massed in Goryeo will absolutely not allow the troops to run rampant and cause trouble, much less put Goryeo in a difficult position."

Then, His Majesty gestured, summoning the Crown Prince before him. "Crown Prince, Ambassador Li is indeed a capable man. In the rear, you should listen more to Ambassador Li's opinions. He understands Goryeo's affairs better than you."

"Your son understands." The Crown Prince bowed to his father, then gave Li Ke a friendly smile. "Ambassador Li, I must trouble you. I hope you will continue your efforts, working for our dynasty and for Goryeo."

Although the passage of a great army could never be completely without incident, the Central Dynasty's Son of Heaven's promise still put Li Ke's mind considerably at ease. Now he no longer resisted returning to Goryeo with the Central Dynasty's Crown Prince. Instead, he resolved to do more by the Crown Prince's side, helping Goryeo keep its losses within an acceptable range. As for post-war compensation, he dared not even think about it. Heaven only knew if it would ever be given.

"The Celestial Dynasty has commanded; this foreign minister can but bow in service until his dying breath!" Li Ke lowered his head and accepted the order. He simultaneously decided that after returning, he would immediately write to his country, reporting the situation to King Li Hun, laying out the stakes, and urging him to make some preparations early.

"Very well, we have discussed what needed to be discussed. Ambassador, please return to the Hall of Imperial Supremacy first and rest well." Having secured the Goryeo envoy's cooperation, His Majesty seemed to be in excellent spirits, and so waved for the envoy to leave.

"Crown Prince, with this man's help, your affairs in Goryeo will be much easier to handle." The Emperor let out a breath of relief. "You can use the embassy in Goryeo as an arm to lean on. They have been in Goryeo a long time and are familiar with the local conditions and popular sentiment. But they are not Goryeo people, after all. Many things they cannot handle well or do not know how to handle, so you must make use of the Goryeo people."

"Father, your son observed that he seemed rather hesitant just now... He probably does not want our dynasty's great army massed in Goryeo," the Crown Prince suddenly asked.

He had been watching coldly from the sidelines. Although Li Ke had concealed it well, he had already seen that Li Ke was deeply reluctant at heart.

"It is perfectly normal for him to be reluctant. Who likes the great army of another country hovering in their own home?" The Emperor smiled. "But since he fears you and wants to please you, he will certainly do his utmost in handling affairs, not daring to slack off. You are someone he cannot afford to offend..."

"Your son understands. Your son will rely heavily on him." The Crown Prince nodded. "Your son will also show consideration for the people's condition, and will not let Goryeo be unbearably harassed, lest chaos erupt in the rear and ruin the great matters at the front."

The Crown Prince had special tutors for history and had naturally read the stories of Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Taizong of Tang's eastern campaigns. These two Sons of Heaven were judged as far apart as heaven and earth, yet they had done the same thing—namely, the eastern expedition against Goguryeo—and both had failed. After reading about them, he naturally had some personal insights.

A great army is not necessarily better the larger it is; the key is maintaining logistics. As long as provisions and fodder are not cut off, the army's morale will not breed chaos. Sending too many troops instead brings immense logistical pressure upon oneself and makes the common people suffer for nothing. Moreover, during a campaign, the rear must absolutely not fall into chaos—this was the lesson these two emperors had taught him.

"Your temperament is good, I know. I sent you there precisely to stabilize the rear." The Emperor also agreed with his view. "However, when the time comes, you must learn to make your own decisions. You will have plenty of advisors around you, and everyone will offer ideas, but the one making the decision is you. The most important thing is making the decision. You must go there and gain some proper experience."

He wanted to use this opportunity to give the Crown Prince initial training in coordinating the rear and overseeing military and political affairs. Goryeo was a tributary vassal state; even if he mishandled it, it would not pain him, so he could let the Crown Prince act freely.

The Crown Prince felt some nervousness inside. He was still somewhat apprehensive, but he knew he had to take this step eventually, so he maintained his composure. "Your son understands."

"Let's go. Don't keep your mother waiting too long. The ministers are waiting as well." The Emperor stepped down from the throne, then took the Crown Prince's hand and walked out.

The New Year's banquet was attended by the entire imperial family. The Empress had long been ready; she had only been waiting for the Emperor to finish receiving the foreign envoys.

As time passed, the people in the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, after prolonged conversation, had all grown somewhat hungry. But because the imperial family had not yet appeared, no one dared to start eating. However, the consumption of tea had grown greater and greater.

But when the time reached the appointed hour, amidst the hubbub, a group of palace guards in brand-new uniforms entered the great hall from a side door, and the noise gradually died away.

"His Majesty arrives!" With the leading guard officer's loud cry, under the breathless gaze of the crowd, the main doors of the great hall were opened. The Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince appeared at the entrance.

The moment the imperial family appeared, everyone rose from their seats, lined up on both sides, and prostrated themselves.

Following past custom, the imperial family walked through the path left between the crowds on both sides and arrived before the throne. Then, the Emperor and Empress sat side by side on the throne, while the Crown Prince sat on a slightly smaller seat beside them.

"All rise." Once seated, the Emperor immediately gestured for everyone to dispense with ceremony.

"Long live, long live, long live our Emperor!" Everyone present kowtowed in unison, then rose again and returned to their original seats.

Next, the Emperor picked up the wine flask from the table before the throne and poured wine into his cup. The ministers and foreign envoys present also raised their cups. The clear, cold wine instantly filled the great hall with its fragrance. Of course, the women and children present did not need to drink.

"My beloved ministers, a great fortune in the New Year." The Emperor first offered a toast, then drank the wine.

"A great fortune in the New Year!" The assembled ministers responded in kind and drank as well.

Another cup was poured.

"Shared joy for all the people!"

"Shared joy for all the people!"

The assembled ministers responded in kind.

Then, a final cup was poured.

"Peace under Heaven!" With this blessing, the Emperor once again drained the cup in one breath.

"Peace under Heaven!" The others voiced the same grand wish.

Thus, after drinking three cups according to custom and offering blessings for the New Year, the banquet officially began. As the Emperor and his ministers exchanged toasts, the tense atmosphere in the great hall from earlier gradually dissipated. Ministers conversed and exchanged congratulations; women and children laughed and chattered ceaselessly. It drew a perfect close to the dynasty's year and spread forth new joy for the year to come.

At this moment, it was not only within the great halls of the Forbidden City. Outside the palace walls, the common people's New Year was also unfolding with fiery intensity. Everywhere was the sound of firecrackers and laughter. After the banquet, the New Year festivities and amusements of both the imperial family and the common people would continue on.

From the tenth to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, as was the custom of old, these were the days for viewing lanterns. Every year at this time, lantern artisans and merchants from all over flocked to the capital, bringing their wares to sell on Yibei Street outside Dong'an Gate.

At that time, the lantern market would have lanterns of every shape and hue, everything one could wish for. People coming specially to view them would crowd shoulder to shoulder, men and women alike, in a lively bustle. On the fourteenth, the trial lighting would begin, and all kinds of festive lanterns would be lit and hung. On the fifteenth, the Lantern Festival would officially begin, and on the sixteenth, the lanterns would be taken down.

These customs were all passed down from the former Ming dynasty. However, in the final years of the former Ming, as the world's order gradually collapsed and great chaos erupted frequently, even the capital grew more desolate with each passing New Year, never again seeing the grand spectacle of peaceful times. After the new dynasty was established, the world slowly settled, social order was restored, and the New Year festivities only then recovered to their former state.

Only those who have experienced the pain of separation and death know how rare and precious the former peace truly was. Things taken for granted in times of peace become utterly unattainable when the world descends into chaos.

The terror of the former Ming's final years was no longer visible on the streets, but that bitter suffering and fear still lingered in people's hearts. Even among the ministers in the hall, many had their own unbearably painful memories of that time.