Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 547 Withered Branches
"Crackling..."

At the end of August, in what should have been a golden harvest season for rice, Yaxi City, situated on the river valley plain, transformed from a granary into a refuge for the people of Nanzhao.

Hundreds of dense forests were cut down and burned, leaving scorched clearings that provided a temporary resting place for countless Nanzhao people who migrated from east to west.

However, there were quite a few people coughing in these camps, and from time to time, one could see people carrying out corpses and burning them not far from the camp.

With over 200,000 people migrating westward, the miasma and diseases of Gaoligong Mountain did not spare anyone, but infected many of those with weaker constitutions.

After an epidemic broke out, hundreds of people died in the camp every day, and even many nobles and officials in Yaxi City died from the epidemic.

"More than two hundred more have died."

Not far from the refugee camp, Fan Cui held a Chinese booklet in his hand, frowning as he talked with Duan Zongbang beside him.

The general of the Nanzhao army frowned deeply. The once-mighty warrior who dominated the battlefield was now helpless in the face of the invisible plague.

Duan Zongbang looked at the procession of corpses in the distance, watching them dump the bodies into the pit and set them on fire with grease. He couldn't help but ask in a deep voice, "How many people have died inside and outside the city this month?"

"More than five thousand people, including two servants of Zhao Qingping, and probably Zhao Qingping himself..."

Fan Cui's voice was heavy, and he didn't dare to elaborate on what he was going to say, but Duan Zongbang knew what he wanted to say.

Zhao Nuomei, who had been sent as an envoy to Luoyang and returned to Nanzhao, had already fallen ill once. Later, before he had fully recovered, he followed the court to move west to Yaxi City. It was already quite remarkable that he had managed to hold on until this point.

"Someone..." Duan Zongbang wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the sound of horses' hooves coming from afar.

The two men turned around and saw palace eunuchs hurrying towards them on horseback. Their expressions changed slightly.

Before they could even ask, a palace attendant approached them and urged, "Gentlemen, His Majesty has summoned you urgently!"

Not daring to delay, Duan Zongbang and Fan Cui quickly found horses and hurriedly headed to the imperial palace in Yaxi City.

Yaxi City is not large in scale. Even after expansion and reconstruction in the past six months, it is now just a small city with a circumference of five li.

The city was inhabited by the nobles of Nanzhao, and it should have been a lively and prosperous place. However, due to the epidemic, there were hardly any pedestrians on the streets, and the whole city was filled with a strong smell of herbs.

You Shilong's palace was originally the residence of a chieftain of the Jinchi Man tribe, so simple that it was even less than the government office of an ordinary city in Nanzhao.

As a result, the two arrived at Yushilong's residence in very little time.

At this moment, the smell of medicine in the simple house was so strong that it could almost make people faint. The aroma of various herbs being boiled together tried to mask the deathly smell brought by the disease, but it only created a more nauseating smell.

In just half a year, the once skilled archer and horseman You Shilong of Nanzhao had become so thin that he was emaciated, with sunken eyes and prominent cheekbones. His whole body seemed to be just a skeleton barely supporting his white nightgown.

Ten paces away, the courtiers stood with their heads bowed, none daring to approach You Shilong, for the plague was truly terrifying.

"Cough cough..." Yu Shilong's cough broke the suffocating silence. His hoarse voice sounded like the sawing of wood, sending chills down one's spine.

"I feel much better today. I think I'll be able to attend court and govern after a few more days of rest."

Yushilong spoke with great confidence, but his condition and weak voice made him seem untrustworthy.

Among them, Dong Cheng, pale-faced, stepped forward and led the congratulations: "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and will surely recover."

As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and cough twice, causing the surrounding officials to subtly move to the left and right, fearing that they might also catch the disease like him.

You Shilong took in all of this. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he nodded and said, "I know my own body best."

At this point, he paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "I have summoned you all here today to give you some instructions."

"If I am fortunate enough to be summoned by the Emperor, then my eldest son Longshun shall succeed me, and my second son Longzhen shall be the Prince of Pyu."

"The affairs of the court are assisted by several Qingping officials, while the affairs of the Pyu Kingdom require the assistance of General Duan to Longzhen in expanding the old territory of the Pyu Kingdom for Nanzhao."

You Shilong looked at Duan Zongbang, his gaze filled with a complex expression: "Could General Duan possibly do that?"

Duan Zongbang knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed. I will certainly do my utmost to recover the former territory of Pyu Kingdom for Nanzhao!"

Seeing that he agreed, You Shilong nodded slightly, and at the same time looked at Fan Cuixie, Dong Cheng and the other Qingping officials:

"You are well-read and knowledgeable in both ancient and modern times. You should assist Emperor Longshun in governing the country and bringing peace to the people."

"I was ignorant of the ways of the world when I was young, and only now, in my weakened state, do I realize how difficult it is for the people."

"Now that the imperial court has moved west to this place, it is surrounded by wolves and must not lose the hearts of the people again."

"Your subject will remember..." Dong Cheng and the others hurriedly bowed and agreed, while You Shilong also sighed with relief, his eyes glazed over.

"If I had known I would die such a pathetic death on my sickbed, I would have preferred to fight Gao Pian to the death in Yangjumei City."

"Even if I am defeated and commit suicide by fire, it will become a legendary tale, letting the Nanzhao barbarians know that I am not a coward..."

These words moved all the ministers to tears, while Dong Cheng, despite his illness, comforted them, saying, "Your Majesty's westward relocation was to preserve the bloodline of Nanzhao and to prepare for a resurgence, not out of fear of war."

"In the past, Duke Danfu of Zhou moved to the foot of Mount Qi to avoid the Rong and Di tribes. Your Majesty's actions today are exactly the same as those of Duke Danfu!"

Yu Shilong seemed somewhat comforted by these words, a trace of solace appearing on his gaunt face: "I hope so, I hope future generations can understand my good intentions..."

He raised his hand, about to wave for everyone to leave, when suddenly hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall. A messenger, covered in dust, rushed into the hall without regard for etiquette and knelt down with a thud:
"Your Majesty! Urgent report from the eastern front! Gao Pian's army has arrived at Yongchang and is advancing westward in three columns!"

The news struck like a thunderbolt, causing an uproar in the hall. You Shilong's eyes widened suddenly, and he leaned forward as if he wanted to say something, but his body went limp and he almost rolled off the couch.

"His Majesty!!"

"I am unharmed..."

The maids on either side supported him, and the courtiers exclaimed in surprise, no longer caring about the spread of the epidemic, and rushed to the imperial bed.

Despite his vision blurring, Yu Shilong clung to his last breath, his withered fingers gripping the edge of the bed tightly, veins bulging, his voice hoarse yet urgent:

"How many people are still living in Yongchang City? Did they burn down farmland and granaries during the evacuation?"

The eunuch lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head: "The cavalry outside the city only relayed military intelligence; they know nothing else."

"Foolish!!" Yu Shilong's voice suddenly became shrill, followed by an even more violent cough, his face turning from yellowish-brown to bluish-purple.

In an instant, Yu Shilong felt a tightness in his chest, and his vision went completely black. Amid the exclamations of his ministers, he fell backward.

"His Majesty!"

"Send it to the doctor quickly!"

"Medicine! Quickly, bring the medicine!"

In an instant, chaos erupted within the palace, further exacerbating the already gloomy state of Nanzhao.

At the same time, just as the Nanzhao cavalry had predicted, the Han army finally captured the entire city of Yongchang after several days of fierce fighting.

This city, which had been part of the Han Dynasty's territory since the Eastern Han Dynasty, finally raised the Han banners again after being separated from the Han Dynasty for more than 300 years.

On the city wall of Yongchang, Gao Pian stood under the banner of "Great Han" and looked out at the rice fields stretching for more than ten miles outside the city. Although many of the rice fields had been burned, the loss was nothing compared to the rice that had been preserved.

"Very good! People say Yongchang is a remote and impoverished place, but now it seems that's not true."

"The farmland outside Yongchang City alone is no less than 200,000 mu. If all of this grain is harvested, it will not only feed the soldiers and civilians, but also provide for the laborers transported from the rear!"

Gao Pian was very happy at this moment, and Li Yangchun, Wang Jian, Zhang Wu and others behind him also all showed smiles.

The Nanzhao Kingdom suffered a heavy blow, with only about 20,000 troops remaining in Yongchang. Li Yangchun led his barbarian soldiers into the mountain plains of Yongchang with unstoppable momentum, quickly capturing the city and extinguishing the fire outside.

With this grain from outside the city, we won't have to worry about running out of food for at least the next few months.

Thinking of this, Gao Pian looked at Li Yangchun behind him: "In this battle, you should be credited with the greatest merit."

Before Li Yangchun could answer, Gao Pian turned to Wang Zhongren and ordered 50,000 laborers and 50,000 auxiliary soldiers to harvest the grain outside the city. He also ordered military officers to count the number of people in the city, register them, and measure the fields.

"First, we should harvest the grain, and then send troops to recover the entire territory of Yongchang in October when winter arrives."

"Yes!" Li Yangchun and the others quickly bowed, while the 50,000 auxiliary soldiers and laborers, in addition to the 30,000 main Han army, began to quickly harvest the grain.

The more than 1,000 military officers accompanying the army began to register the people inside and outside Yongchang City. A small number of barbarians who tried to resist were suppressed and executed, while the rest of the law-abiding barbarians were left unharmed.

More than half a month passed quickly. As the Han army harvested the grain and stored it in the city's granaries, the military officers handed over maps and documents to Gao Pian.

"Eight thousand seven hundred and fifty-seven households, forty-six thousand five hundred and twenty-nine people, one hundred and ninety-five thousand four hundred and seventeen mu, and a total harvest of twenty-eighty-six thousand fifty-seven shi, two dou, and three jin."

Inside the Yongchang government office, Gao Pian and the others couldn't help but smile as they listened to Wang Zhongren's report.

Most of the people of Yongchang were taken by You Shilong to Yaxi City, west of Gaoligong Mountain, so not many remained.

More than 46,000 civilians, plus 130,000 soldiers and civilians, totaled no more than 180,000.

The 280,000 shi of grain harvested would be enough to feed 180,000 people for more than four months in peacetime.

However, Gao Pian could not avoid fighting, since they had only captured Yongchang City, while the other cities in Yongchang territory were still under the control of Nanzhao.

Thinking of this, Gao Pian said, "Our army has enough auxiliary soldiers and civilian laborers, and most of the people in Yongchang City are barbarians, which may cause unrest."

"I intend to relocate all the barbarian people to Kunzhou and Quzhou. What do you all think?"

Yunnan has no shortage of uncivilized people, but Yongchang is remote and has mountains and rivers that make it difficult to govern.

This is why it was much easier to relocate Han people to the west later after the barbarian people were moved to the east and the land was left behind.

"The general seconded the proposal."

Li Yangchun tapped the table lightly with his hand, and the others followed suit.

Seeing that everyone agreed, Gao Pian smiled, and Zhang Wu also spoke up: "Our army's auxiliary soldiers and civilian laborers are enough to support the army in recovering the entire territory of Yongchang. However, after recovering these places, we still need people to cultivate the land."

"The most urgent task is to ask the court to relocate the people to Yunnan, otherwise our army will have to rely on barbarian soldiers and civilians to fight for a long time."

"Although the barbarian soldiers and civilians have not shown any wrongdoing at the moment, those who are not of our race are bound to have different intentions, and we must be on guard."

With the lessons of the former Tang Dynasty right before their eyes, no one chose to refute what Zhang Wu said; on the contrary, they all felt it made perfect sense.

Gao Pian nodded and said, "I submitted a memorial to the court half a month ago. Now we only need to wait until winter to send troops to various places in Yongchang, register all the barbarian lands, and send them all to Luoyang. This will let the court know that Yongchang is not a poor place, but just lacks development by Han people."

After making his statement, Gao Pian discussed with Zhang Wu, Li Yangchun, Wang Jian and others how to send troops to recover the remaining cities within Yongchang territory.

Since Yongchang City had been recovered and the Han army had sufficient food and labor, Gao Pian and others, for the sake of safety, chose to send troops to recover the cities in late October, in order to minimize the harm of miasma and disease to the Han army.

Time passed steadily under their planning, and as late October arrived, the Han army split into multiple routes to begin recapturing the cities of Yongchang. Meanwhile, Han spies hidden in Nanzhao brought good news to the Han court.

King You Shilong of Nanzhao died of an epidemic at the age of 42. His eldest son, Long Shun, who was 24 years old, ascended the throne and became the twelfth king of Nanzhao.

After ascending the throne, Long Shun immediately surrendered to the Han Dynasty and offered to send Long Luosheng, the third son of You Shilong, to Luoyang as a hostage.

"Allow them to surrender."

In mid-December, with Nanzhao completely driven to the area west of Gaoligong Mountain, Liu Jilong finally agreed to Nanzhao's surrender.

In response, Liu Lie, who had just finished the Longyou inspection and returned to Luoyang, bowed to Liu Jilong and said, "Does Father want to temporarily cease hostilities and wait for the situation in Yunnan to stabilize before completely pacifying Nanzhao?"

"Hmm." Liu Jilong on the golden platform nodded in response. Although he really wanted to destroy Nanzhao in one fell swoop, it was indeed a bit difficult.

Although Nanzhao had already suffered heavy losses, it was still quite difficult for the Han army to launch a long expedition and cross the Gaoligong Mountains.

If You Shilong died of an epidemic, one can imagine how harsh the environment was west of Gaoligong Mountain during that era.

Although Yunnan has been recovered and all the barbarian tribes have submitted, the number of Han Chinese in the area is not large.

Over the past two years, the Han people have migrated more than 30,000 people to Yunnan and rescued more than 70,000 Han people who had been abducted in Yunnan.

While 100,000 Han Chinese was a considerable number, the local barbarian tribes numbered in the millions. The Han dynasty had to find a way to assimilate them before it could continue westward across the Gaoligong Mountains to conquer the Nanzhao Kingdom.

It took more than 600 years, including the Ming and Qing dynasties and modern times, for the Han people to finally establish a foothold in the many river valleys west of Gaoligong Mountain. Although the technology of the Han Dynasty was ahead of the barbarians of that era, there were not enough Han people to live in the area, so this expansion was just an illusion.

"Order Gao Pian to achieve self-sufficiency as soon as possible. In addition, relocate all the Wuman and Baiman tribes to Shannan East Road and Henan Road."

"Order the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel to come up with a plan to settle these hundreds of thousands of Wuman and Baiman people."

“If we can move these Wuman and Baiman people to the Central Plains, it will be much easier to move Han people into Yunnan later.”

The Wuman and Baiman were the main ethnic groups of Nanzhao, and also the main ethnic groups that Nanzhao had previously oppressed.

If the Han Dynasty were to simply relocate them, the other ethnic groups in Yunnan would not only not object, but would actually be very supportive.

However, in order to appease them, some benefits still need to be conceded, otherwise it will not be conducive to the migration of Han people.

If enough Han Chinese migrate in the future and become the dominant ethnic group in Yunnan, it will be much easier to "reform the native chieftains and bring them under the direct administration" of the various ethnic minorities.

After all, the vast undeveloped land west of Gaoligong Mountain and south of Ailao Mountain was really not suitable for the Han people of this era.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong looked at Liu Lie and asked, "Tell me, what are the results of the provincial and municipal inspections?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Lie, who had already prepared his response, bowed to Liu Jilong and said:
"This inspection in the capital lasted for a year and uncovered 18 families of meritorious officials, 189 officials of the fifth rank or above, 3,425 officials of the fifth rank or below with official rank, and 12,557 unranked officials and assistants."

"If we include the results of the previous investigation in Gyeonggi Province, the court has added more than 57,600 hectares of hidden land and seized gold, silver, silk, antiques, paintings, villas and mansions, etc., worth more than 9,260,000 kan."

"If judged according to the Great Han Law, these 16,000 officials and their relatives, totaling more than 377,000 people, would be implicated."

The results of the investigation in the capital are out. A total of so many corrupt officials and lawless nobles have been uncovered in the eight provinces, and nearly 380,000 people have been implicated.

It may not seem like many, but these are only the eight routes in the north. In the south, there are nine routes besides Yunnan, which could involve even more people.

"These 380,000 people were punished and exiled to places such as Beiting, Daning, and Liaodong."

Liu Jilong immediately decided on the destination of the 380,000 people, and then looked at Liu Lie and said, "There is still Henan Province in the north that has not been dealt with. However, the current population is not enough to stabilize Liaodong and Daming."

"Yes..." Liu Lie knew that his father was not satisfied with the fact that he had implicated too few people, and he secretly groaned in his heart.

The population of the eight northern provinces is only 18 million, and the fact that 380,000 people have been implicated is already quite a lot, but his father is still not satisfied.

The only remaining suitable areas for relocation to Daning and Liaodong are Henan Province. Henan Province has only recovered to a population of over six million. No matter how much it is involved, it is unlikely to affect too many people and will only harm innocent people.

"You should rest well. You will be in charge of the upcoming imperial examinations in Luoyang. You can send your subordinates to handle the rest."

"The Crown Princess has just recovered. I have already seen the grandson, and he is in excellent health. His nickname is Bodhisattva Lang, and you may choose his own name."

"There are many talented people in this year's imperial examinations. You can choose for yourself. Next year, you should first observe the Jiannan, Qianzhong, Shannan East and West Circuits, as well as Henan and Huainan Nanjing Circuits."

"The eastern and western routes of Jiangnan and the Lingnan route will be investigated last. All the people investigated will be relocated to Yunnan, Liaodong, Daning, Annam and other places."

Liu Jilong gave Liu Lie instructions on what he needed to do next year. Liu Lie, who was already used to it, nodded in agreement. Finally, seeing that Liu Jilong had no further instructions, he raised his hand in a bow and prepared to retreat and leave Zhenguan Hall.

Seeing that he was being very businesslike, Liu Jilong sighed and instructed, "Take good care of yourself and get plenty of rest these days."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lie was touched, but when he thought of the responsibilities his father had assigned him, he suppressed his emotions.

"Your subject respectfully obeys Your Majesty's decree and withdraws..."

He slowly withdrew from the Zhenguan Hall. Liu Jilong watched him leave, feeling uneasy, but he didn't blame him, after all, he was the one who had driven him to this point. Lost in thought, he lowered his head and continued processing the memorials, while Liu Lie returned to the East Palace and met Liu Lie, who had rushed back wearily.

"Your Highness..."

"I was in a hurry to come back, so I went to find my father and report on the matter of the capital inspection."

Liu Lie looked at Zhang Miaoyin, who had become more charming than before, and then looked down to see the eight-month-old baby boy.

"This is His Highness's son. His Majesty gave him the nickname 'Bodhisattva Lang' and said that His Highness could choose his given name."

"Let's call him Liu Hao." Liu Lie had already thought of a name on his way back. Zhang Miaoyin nodded in agreement, had someone bring paper money, and asked Liu Lie to write down his name. Then she sent someone to the Imperial Clan Court to have Liu Hao's name recorded on the jade tablet.

After finishing these tasks, Liu Lie sat down with Zhang Miaoyin and said, "This time, the capital inspection implicated nearly 380,000 people, but Father seems to think that too few people have been implicated."

"Next year, I will be stationed in Luoyang. At that time, I am afraid that you gentlemen will have to work hard and worry about more people involved."

“Send some gifts to the homes of these gentlemen. Also, take this opportunity to promote them to higher ranks.”

Zhang Miaoyin nodded after hearing this: "After all, these gentlemen were among the first batch of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) established by the court. Their current official positions are indeed somewhat unworthy of their status."

"Why not promote him to a rank of around the fifth grade, and then have someone allocate some rewards from the Eastern Palace to his residence?"

"Hmm..." Liu Lie nodded. After all, the Han Dynasty inherited the Tang system, and the power and authority of official positions and ranks were still very high.

Moreover, there will be at least two more imperial examinations in the capital. Once those examinations are over, I will be able to promote them to the fourth rank.

Considering the time frame, from the time they passed the imperial examination to the end of the provincial examination, it took them about six years in total. To become a fourth-rank official in six years is a rare promotion speed, and the four of them should be satisfied.

Thinking this, Liu Lie began to focus on teasing Liu Hao, while the imperial court's inspection of the north gradually came to an end over time.

As the year drew to a close, imperial edicts for promotion continued to be issued from the Southern Office, and all of the more than six thousand officials who had followed Liu Lie in the capital inspection were promoted.

Many of them were appointed as local officials in prefectures and counties, while a small number were selected to serve in the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Six Ministries.

Liu Lie selected many capable individuals from this year's Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), recruited more than two thousand people who had returned from serving as soldiers and officials in the countryside from Linzhou University, and finally selected many capable officials from this year's graduates of official schools.

Amidst the crackling of New Year's firecrackers, the inspection team, led by over 800 officials and accompanied by more than 5,000 clerks, and guarded by the Six Armies of the Northern Army, continued its inspection after the Lantern Festival.

The six circuits of Jiannan Circuit, Shannan East Circuit, Shannan West Circuit, Qianzhong Circuit, Henan Circuit, and Huainan Circuit became the targets of the capital's inspection, and the officials in charge of these six circuits were all in a state of fear.

Most of the dissenting voices disappeared because of the capital inspection, and the remaining ones all bury their heads in the sand and humbly accepted the inspection.

Those with skillful methods have already cleaned up their own mess, so the imperial inspection naturally won't implicate them.

However, most officials were not so clever, so their fate was basically to be dragged out of their yamen or mansion by the officials of the capital inspection and the six armies of the Northern Army, stuffed into a carriage and imprisoned in the state prison.

During the imperial inspection in the capital, severe floods broke out in the eastern capital, Henan, Huainan and other places. Even though the imperial court had built countless canals and dikes in various prefectures and counties of the Central Plains over the years, human power was indeed pitifully weak in the face of natural disasters.

Four states and twelve counties were affected by the floods, including the city of Luoyang.

Two months of heavy rain caused the Yellow River to overflow its banks, and even the Yi River, which flows through Luoyang, rose by two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), overflowing from the riverbed onto the streets, where the water was about a foot deep.

If Liu Jilong hadn't already ordered the Yi River embankment to be reinforced and raised, the Yi River might have swallowed up the entire city of Luoyang, forcing the people to hide on rooftops for help instead of calmly wading through the water as they are now.

Standing before the Yingtian Gate of Ziwei City, Liu Jilong gazed at the submerged Luoyang City by the Yi River and expressionlessly instructed Cui Shu behind him:

"After the floods, there will inevitably be an epidemic, so we need to be careful to prevent it."

"In addition, the embankment of the Yi River will be raised by another five feet."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Cui Shu hurriedly replied, while Liu Jilong looked behind him and frowned, asking, "Where are Minister Zheng and Minister Xiao?"

"Your two gentlemen are seriously ill, I'm afraid..."

Before Cui Shu could speak, Zhang Ying behind him spoke up first. Liu Jilong glanced at him, and he quickly shut his mouth.

Liu Jilong turned his gaze back to Cui Shu, who bowed and said, "Both of you gentlemen are unwell, and the imperial physician has already gone to treat you."

"Furthermore, the Prince of Xingyang is seriously ill today, and the imperial physicians are powerless to help. They can only hope that the Prince of Xingyang can pull through this crisis on his own."

Cui Shu undoubtedly brought bad news to Liu Jilong: Zheng Tian and Xiao Gou had fallen ill, and Prince Li Shangyin of Xingyang was seriously ill...

For a time, Cui Shu was the only one in the Southern Court who could be relied upon. Although Cui Shu's abilities were not outstanding, his seniority made him an unshakeable figure in the Southern Court.

"I understand."

Liu Jilong didn't say much, but glanced at Cui Shu before turning his gaze back to the scene outside Ziwei City.

After a while, he returned to Zhenguan Hall to rest, and the sewage that had flooded into the city gradually receded as the heavy rain stopped.

After the flood, the streets of Luoyang were piled with mud several inches thick. The Southern government ordered the mud to be shoveled away, quicklime to be spread on it, and strictly required the people of Luoyang to wear masks made of coarse cloth.

Despite the stringent requirements, no epidemic broke out in Luoyang, but a significant plague still broke out in Zhengzhou, Caizhou, Songzhou, and other places near the Grand Canal.

Although the plague was quickly brought under control, a significant number of people died from the disease.

After Luoyang was cleared away, Liu Jilong took Liu Lie to the Prince of Xingyang's residence, where they met Li Shangyin, who was then seventy-three years old.

At seventy-three years old, his hearing seemed to be failing, so when he saw Liu Jilong arrive, he seemed to be talking to himself as he bowed and greeted Liu Jilong.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

No need for formalities.

"Your Majesty, my father is hard of hearing and cannot hear what you are saying. Please forgive him."

Li Gunshi explained to Liu Jilong, while Liu Jilong looked at Li Shangyin with a complicated expression.

He was wearing reading glasses, his body was hunched and thin, and he would occasionally look up at himself.

"Be flat!"

Liu Jilong raised his voice, and Li Shangyin finally heard what Liu Jilong said. With the help of Li Gunshi, he got up.

Liu Jilong gestured for him to sit down, while Li Jingyang, Li Gunshi's son, brought Liu Jilong a chair.

Seeing Liu Jilong sit down, Li Shangyin sat back down on the couch, breathing heavily without realizing it.

"We're all getting old..."

Seeing Li Shangyin's appearance, Liu Jilong couldn't help but sigh, and at the same time, he thought of Hexi.

If I continue to delay, will I be unable to return to Hexi in the future?
Thinking of this, Liu Jilong couldn't help but feel a little dazed, while Li Shangyin spoke as if roaring:

"Your Majesty, I am old and fear I will not live much longer."

"Don't say that," Liu Jilong could only raise his voice to speak to him.

Li Shangyin shook his head: "I have been able to follow Your Majesty for thirty years, to establish the great Han Dynasty, and I am now seventy-three years old. I have no regrets."

"If it weren't for Your Majesty, I'm afraid I would have died in depression in Dongchuan. Your Majesty need not feel sorry for me."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jilong fell silent, while Li Shangyin continued speaking:

"If I were to pass away, I hope Your Majesty would not be saddened and would allow me to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum at Mangshan."

"Yes, I will." After learning of Li Shangyin's wish, Liu Jilong was unwilling to continue the topic and instead told him about things from the past.

"Yishan, do you still remember the achievements you made in governing Longyou in the past?"

"Of course...of course I remember!"

Upon hearing Liu Jilong mention the past events in Longyou, a faint light seemed to ignite in Li Shangyin's deep-set eyes.

His thin fingers unconsciously clenched the bedding beneath him, and his voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying a kind of final burst of excitement:
“The land of Longyou is fertile and has abundant water, but the irrigation ditches and embankments have all been abandoned due to the poor management by the Tubo.”

"When I was appointed Governor of Liangzhou by Your Majesty's order, I led tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians to reclaim thousands of acres of wasteland, build a 30-mile-long canal, and construct 12 embankments."

"At that time, many officials felt that I was not worthy of the title. It was only because I lived in the government office and went to the countryside that many officials recognized me."

He spoke haltingly about his past achievements in Liangzhou, his words rapid, as if he wanted to recount all the solid accomplishments of his life.

"I still remember when the wheat was ripe, the people brought me food and drink and shared a drink with me in a thatched hut. Whenever I think of these things, I feel ashamed of my impetuousness in my youth."

"If we had joined His Majesty when he was still a nobody, His Majesty's journey eastward might have been smoother and wouldn't have been delayed so long..."

He recounted the details of his past with great familiarity, and half an hour passed in this narrative, which was a mixture of pride and illness.

Finally, he seemed to have exhausted his strength. After coughing for a while, he leaned against the couch with Li Jingyang's help, and the light in his eyes quickly dimmed.

"Your Majesty, minister..."

He wanted to say something more, but Liu Jilong shook his head, got up and tucked him in, his voice deep and powerful: "Yishan's contributions to the country and the people, I and the world will never forget."

"You should rest and recuperate, and do not overexert yourself. After Yishan recovers, we will return to Hexi together."

His comforting words seemed to have some other effect, making Li Shangyin's eyelids heavy and drowsy.

Seeing that he had closed his eyes completely, Liu Jilong dragged his heavy steps out of the bedroom filled with the smell of a sickbed.

"His Majesty……"

Outside the door, the imperial physician was bowing and holding his breath, his forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

"You don't need to feel guilty, just tell the truth."

Liu Jilong's voice was devoid of emotion, but his gaze was fixed on the imperial physician with an unwavering intensity.

When the imperial physician saw him asking the question, he could only brace himself and reply in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li's illness has reached the point of no return. All five internal organs are failing, and he is already... already showing signs of exhaustion."

"Although I have tried every means, I am unable to save him. Prime Minister Li's health is hanging by a thread. It all depends on Prime Minister Li's own will and how long he can hold on..."

As soon as the imperial physician finished speaking, Li Gunshi and Li Jingyang, who followed Liu Jilong out, looked sorrowful.

Liu Jilong stood there silently, and the air around him seemed to freeze.

After a long while, he slowly looked at Li Gunshi and Li Jingyang, who were standing beside him with their heads bowed and their faces filled with grief, and said in a hoarse voice, "You two, take good care of Yishan."

"If there is anything, you may bring the jade token directly into the palace and present it to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Lie handed over a jade token, which Li Gunshi accepted with both hands.

"Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed..." Li Gunshi and his son Li Jingyang replied, their voices choked with emotion.

Liu Jilong said no more, turned around and walked out of the palace, boarding the carriage that had been waiting for him.

Liu Lie followed closely behind and signaled the imperial carriage to proceed.

For the next while, the carriage was silent, with only the rumble of the wheels breaking the silence.

Liu Lie stole a glance at his father, only to see that his face was ashen, his gaze fixed on the window, unfocused, clearly lost in memories of his past with Li Shangyin and the sorrow of losing his dear friend.

After a long silence, Liu Lie felt he needed to break the suffocating silence and allow his father to recover from his grief, so he carefully began to report on government affairs:

“Father, the southern provinces have been inspecting the capital for more than four months. Although there have been a few aristocratic families and powerful clans who have made trouble by relying on their fortified villages and private armies, they have all been quickly suppressed by the local authorities and have not become a threat.”

He paused slightly at this point, noticing out of the corner of his eye that his father's gaze had shifted slightly, before continuing:
“In Jiannan, Shannan East, and Shannan West alone, the number of officials found guilty of corruption, dereliction of duty, and collusion with local authorities has exceeded one thousand.”

"The number of accomplices who assisted them in perverting the law and oppressing the local people was several times greater."

"Your subject believes that if all these criminals and their families could be exiled to the Yunnan border to serve as laborers for development, even if only five out of ten survive, or even just three or four, it would be enough to build cities, cultivate land, and establish prefectures and counties in the area north of the Ailao Mountains and east of the Gaoligong Mountains."

"With these hundreds of thousands of 'criminals' as the foundation, the court's foothold in Yunnan can be completely stabilized, and there will be no more worries about reversals."

Liu Jilong listened quietly, and after he finished speaking, he slowly nodded, his voice slightly tired: "I understand."

"As previously agreed, this matter will be submitted to the three departments of the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice for review and approval, and you will be in charge of its implementation."

After speaking, he turned his gaze out the window again, falling into a deeper silence and reminiscence.

Two quarters of an hour later, as the carriage entered Ziwei City and stopped at the East Palace, Liu Jilong spoke as Liu Lie alighted from the carriage:

"Next spring, I intend to make a western tour to Hexi. You will oversee the country at that time, so make preparations in advance."

Liu Lie was stunned. Although he could now handle state affairs, he was still only the crown prince, not the regent.

When his father asked him to oversee the country, it meant that his position was finally secure, and Liu Lie couldn't help but feel happy.

"Your subject will remember this. Father, please rest early and do not worry too much about the Prince of Xingyang."

He bowed respectfully, and the carriage drove away from the East Palace gate immediately after he finished bowing.

Liu Lie excitedly strode towards the East Palace, while Liu Jilong returned to his bedchamber.

He hadn't even washed up after returning to his palace when he saw Zhao Ying hurriedly enter the hall, and a sense of unease immediately rose in his heart.

"His Majesty……"

Zhao Ying approached Liu Jilong hesitantly. Seeing Liu Jilong staring at him in silence, he could only speak under pressure: "Two quarters of an hour ago, the Prince of Xingyang passed away..."

"..." Although he had anticipated it, Liu Jilong still felt an indescribable emotion when it actually happened.

After a long while, he slowly emerged from that emotion and nodded, saying, "I understand. Posthumously confer upon Yishan the title of Prince of Zheng and bury him with the rites of a prince at the Imperial Mausoleum in Mangshan."

"His son, Li Gunshi, inherited the title of Prince of Xingyang, was granted the title of Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and was bestowed with fifty gold, silver, and jade artifacts each."

“Yes…” Zhao Ying replied respectfully. Liu Jilong then instructed, “Make preparations. I intend to make a western tour of Hexi next spring. You should prepare early, but tell the relevant officials and counties not to be extravagant. The items used can be referenced from the old residence in Shandan.”

"Your Majesty obeys." Zhao Ying was surprised that his emperor was going to return to Hexi. He was both worried and happy after hearing this.

He worried that the western tour would be arduous and that His Majesty's health would not be able to withstand it, but he was also happy that he could accompany the emperor to Hexi to see the graves of his elder brother and parents.

With these complex emotions, he respectfully withdrew from the Zhenguan Hall, while Liu Jilong turned his gaze to the map on the golden platform of the Zhenguan Hall.

The Han Dynasty on the map encompassed the entire Western Regions, most of Liaodong, and two or three tenths of Korea.

Although it is only six or seven million square kilometers, this vast territory is actually controlled through immigration and land reclamation.

It took me thirteen years of fighting and governing to create this territory. If I can continue to expand the territory, that would be best. If there is no good opportunity, then it is also acceptable to consolidate the current territory.

Even if he wanted to conquer a vast territory that overlapped with the borders of previous dynasties, the foundation of the Han Dynasty was ultimately too weak. With more than 40 million people, it was already fortunate that he could firmly control the current territory.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong turned his gaze to the northwest of the map, looking from Linzhou to Lanzhou, then to Liangzhou, Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou...

This is the road he came from, and now it's time for him to go back and take a look.

If possible, it would be even better to see Zhang Huaishen again; otherwise, I'm afraid I really won't be able to see him again.

Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Jilong headed towards his bedchamber to rest, leaving only the flickering candlelight in the main hall, illuminating the vast Han Dynasty on the massive map.

(End of this chapter)