Chapter 62: His Majesty Has Grown Benevolent

Liu Ju patted his son on the shoulder, while Shi De sighed and comforted him, "Your Highness, do not blame yourself. An unknowing person is not guilty, and this matter is not your fault."

Liu Jin remained silent for a moment and said, "I will try to persuade my grandfather."

...

Weiyang Palace, Xuanshi Hall.

When Liu Jin appeared in the main hall once again, Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie were discussing affairs with Emperor Wu of Han in the inner chamber.

"Reporting to Your Imperial Grandfather, the three-piece cavalry set has been successfully manufactured, and the warhorse is currently kept in the Crown Prince's Palace."

Emperor Wu waved his hands to the left and right, instructing, "Send it to the Shanglin Park."

"Imperial Grandfather."

Liu Jin took a deep breath and began, "A single saddle costs approximately fifteen hundred coins to produce, the stirrups are relatively cheaper, requiring about four hundred coins, while the horseshoes cost around six hundred."

"For a single cavalryman to be equipped with all three items, it will cost between two thousand and three thousand coins..."

Emperor Wu interrupted him, "What exquisite calculation."

He looked at Sang Hongyang and inquired, "What does my good imperial grandson want to say?"

Sang Hongyang was momentarily stunned. He truly had no idea what Emperor Wu meant by this—did he favor his imperial grandson or not?

These words carried a distinct undertone of mockery.

Having no other choice, Sang Hongyang answered neutrally, "Replying to Your Majesty, the imperial grandson probably intends to say... that equipping a powerful cavalry force requires economic considerations?"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Emperor Wu slowly stood up and walked toward the rear of the inner chamber. Hanging on the wall was his personal sword, a prized blade from Dayuan sent back to him by Li Guangli during the campaign against the Dayuan state.

He slowly took it down and handed it to the eunuchs by his side, "My imperial grandson has rendered extraordinary service. Bestow this upon him."

"As you command."

Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie silently witnessed this scene. Bestowments could take many forms—wealth, silk, official posts, or peerages—yet they had never seen Emperor Wu give away his personal sword. Not even his nephew, Huo Qubing, had ever received such a supreme honor.

In the eyes of these two senior officials, this carried profound significance. They gently raised their heads to exchange a glance, before quickly averting their eyes, each seeing the profound shock mirrored in the other's gaze.

They truly could not fathom Emperor Wu's thoughts and intentions. A moment ago, he was clearly mocking Liu Jin, yet in the very next breath, he bestowed his personal sword upon him.

If one had to describe it... was it a mix of hatred and affection?

Liu Jin accepted the treasured sword, but this was not what he had hoped to achieve. Thus, he spoke up once more, "Imperial Grandfather, we have only just suffered a severe drought this year. The common people have not had an easy life in recent years, leading to an impoverished economy..."

"Spare your trouble, Imperial Grandson. Sang Hongyang understands these matters better than you do." Emperor Wu interrupted again. Why did those four words, "Imperial Grandson," sound so grating to the ear?

Feeling helpless and having failed in his remonstrance, Liu Jin departed from Xuanshi Hall.

"To Shanglin Park."

...

Emperor Wu instructed Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie.

...

Liu Jin returned to the Crown Prince's Palace.

Liu Ju and Shi De hurried out to greet Liu Jin. Upon seeing the sword in his hand, they asked with excitement, "Did His Majesty listen to your advice and reward you with a treasured sword?"

Liu Jin shook his head, "Father, Master Shi, I find it somewhat difficult to understand my grandfather."

"Why?"

Liu Jin explained, "I intended to dissuade him from wasting the people's labor and wealth to manufacture cavalry equipment, but he stopped me by saying Sang Hongyang understands better than I do."

"He kept calling me 'good imperial grandson' and 'imperial grandson' over and over... It sounded just like he was ridiculing me."

Liu Ju sneered, "It doesn't just sound like it; he definitely is! He also calls me 'Crown Prince.' Now you know why your father always says he loves to disgust people, right?"

"He is just like a hedgehog. No matter how nicely anyone treats him, he finds a way to make you want to gag!"

"Why is Grandfather like this?" Liu Jin asked, perplexed.

Liu Ju pondered for a moment and said, "Who knows? He wasn't like this when he was young... Well, did he listen to your advice?"

Liu Jin shook his head, "No."

Liu Ju: "..."

Shi De: "..."

Then why on earth did he reward you with a treasured sword? Oh, right—to thank you for inventing an instrument of mass slaughter for him!

Shi De sighed, "Who knows how many commoners will suffer hardships once again, and how many brave youths will lose their lives. What a monstrous sin!"

Liu Jin also sighed.

Shi De hastily corrected himself, "Imperial Grandson must not blame yourself. Your original intention in inventing this thing was good. The one committing the sin is not you; it is His Majesty who commits the sin... er."

Liu Jin raised his head to stare at Shi De.

Bracing himself, Shi De declared, "Even if these words reach His Majesty's ears today, or the ears of anyone else, I will still say the exact same thing! That is simply the kind of man I am—I speak my mind!"

A look of admiration spread across Liu Ju's face, "Master Shi is truly steadfast."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, a guest has come to pay a visit."

With a soft acknowledgment, Liu Ju left first in the company of the servants.

Seeing that Liu Ju had departed and the crowd had dispersed, Shi De hurriedly said to Liu Jin, "Imperial Grandson, you really didn't need to repeat those last words to outsiders."

Liu Jin: "..."

...

"Rest assured, Master Shi, I am not devoid of discretion."

"Thank you, Imperial Grandson."

This was Grand Tutor Shi, a Confucian scholar of high standing—flexible and adaptable, never stubbornly pedantic.

...

Shanglin Park.

The morning sun was not yet scorching. A fine steed galloped across the boundless grassland.

Emperor Wu sat upon the high-arched saddle, pressing his feet firmly into the stirrups. Previously, riders had to control the reins with both hands or a single hand, making movement quite inconvenient. Unless they were elite warriors like Huo Qubing, few could let go of the reins entirely, relying solely on leg strength to maintain balance while using weapons with both hands.

Yet now, such mastery was no longer necessary. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of horsemanship could control their weapon with both hands free from the reins.

The convenience brought by the stirrups and the high-arched saddle was glaringly evident at this moment.

Watching Emperor Wu gallop across the fields on horseback, Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie could not help feeling a genuine sense of emotion. If Liu Jin had manufactured these items sooner, who could tell how many great victories the Han dynasty might have secured, and how could they have suffered the bitter taste of defeat seven years ago?

Emperor Wu dismounted in a fluid motion, the fondness in his eyes impossible to conceal. He praised aloud, "Truly magnificent!"

"How much money remains in the imperial treasury?"

Sang Hongyang respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Grandson calculated the economic accounts quite accurately. The treasury can no longer support such massive expenditures."

"With the taxes of the Three Capitals exempted again this year, I am afraid we may not even have sufficient fiscal support to equip a powerful cavalry force for the whole year."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Emperor Wu slowly walked forward across the grass, while Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie followed cautiously behind him.

"Very well, keep this matter confidential for now, and let it not be spread abroad."

"Did you both know that the Imperial Grandson was assassinated in Changle Palace yesterday?"

"Go tell Du Zhou to execute everyone working in that outer blacksmith's workshop."

"As Your Majesty commands." The two officials seemed accustomed to Emperor Wu's ruthless streak. Whether the blacksmith workshop had brought misfortune upon the imperial grandson or whether His Majesty simply feared the three-piece cavalry set might be leaked, His Majesty would inevitably choose to eliminate them all.

"Wait."

"Never mind. Summon them into the Lesser府 (Minor Treasury/Shaofu) instead, and let them serve as craftsmen there."

What?

Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie were momentarily startled. They suddenly realized that His Majesty seemed to have changed. How could a word like "mercy" ever manifest in His Majesty?

They could not comprehend it, nor did they know what Emperor Wu was thinking or why he had temporarily altered his decision.