Chapter 196: Party Prohibitions

Xiao Baoyue sat properly, her hands gently folded atop her robe, fingers slender and long like spring willow shoots; her expression reverent and gentle, like autumn moonlight.

She waited for Wang Yang to speak of the Party Prohibitions.

Wang Yang ate fruit, drank wine, his gaze drifting lazily around the room, slowly stretching his limbs, taking his time—then finally spoke:

"The Zhou dynasty feudalized, placing inner ministers and outer lords; Qin abolished the lords, uniting the entire realm under the Son of Heaven.

Han inherited Qin's system, slightly reverting to antiquity, relying on three pillars—imperial clans, maternal kin, and meritorious ministers—to support state governance. The emperor's power was also divided, less absolute than in Qin times.

After Emperor Jing, the imperial clans' power steadily declined; meritorious ministers, passed down through generations, could no longer preserve their positions. Only maternal kin rose with each new emperor's accession, generation after generation.

By Emperor Wu's reign, power was centralized by dividing court into inner and outer chambers: the outer court led by the Chancellor; the inner court led by maternal kin.

Since maternal kin were the emperor's personal relatives, more trustworthy than imperial clans, and their power shifted with each new emperor, they were granted the title Grand General to assist the emperor and counterbalance the outer court.

The reason? The emperor sought to consolidate power and thus relied on maternal kin.

Emperor Emperor Emperor Guangwu unified the realm, assuming all affairs himself, hollowing out the Three Excellencies and appointing Secretaries, further weakening the outer court's authority.

Under this system, when the emperor was strong, power was monopolized; when weak, he became vulnerable to maternal kin.

Eastern Han emperors rarely lived long; often, young sons succeeded them. Empresses dowager, ruling in their stead, favored infant emperors to secure power—thus four emperors were installed from outside, six empresses ruled from behind the curtain.

Each empress dowager summoned her own family as allies—hence the maternal kin Dou, Deng, Yan, Zhuge Zhuge Liang, He, successively dominating power, leaving the emperor isolated.

Maternal kin seized power within, while the outer court lacked strength to resist. The emperor, secluded in the inner palace, could neither easily contact the outer court nor trust it, for many in the outer court were allied with maternal kin. Thus, he turned to eunuchs.

Emperor He killed Dou Ruan Xian, and Zheng Zhong was enfeoffed as a marquis; Emperor Shun executed Yan Ruan Xian, and nineteen others—Sun, Cheng, et al. —were all enfeoffed. Emperor Huan killed Zhuge Zhuge Liang Ji, and five eunuchs became marquises. This is how eunuchs rose..."

Xiao Baoyue nodded repeatedly. As the sun's shadow shifted, golden light filtered through the curtain, falling on Wang Yang's star-blue robe hem. He extended his palm, playing with the sunlight, and said:

"Once eunuchs rose, maternal kin drew upon outer court scholars to resist them.

First, maternal kin themselves were close to scholars, for they became maternal kin through marriage into the imperial family.

Second, the Three Excellencies held no power and could not lead the outer court, while maternal kin's position within the inner court was eroded by eunuchs—so maternal kin turned outward.

Eunuchs' rise was not confined to the capital; their fathers, brothers, sons, and relatives held positions as ministers and colonels; their guests and disciples governed prefectures and counties.

Scholars aspired to the chancellorship or governorships; seeing eunuchs—low-born and uneducated—occupying positions across the realm, how could they tolerate it? Thus, they too sought alliance with maternal kin.

Maternal kin drew scholars; scholars allied with maternal kin. This was one key reason why 'virtuous maternal kin' like Dou Wu and He Jin gained recognition among late Han literati..."

Xiao Baoyue listened with delight, feeling a sudden clarity.

The fan-bearing maid could not grasp the subtlety of Wang Yang's words, but she watched his elegant speech and low, calm voice, his bony fingers turning in the sunlight, the blue veins beneath his skin appearing translucent. His unconscious gestures seemed to hold a kind of magic, drawing her gaze endlessly—until she forgot to fan.

Only when Wang Yang withdrew his hand did she remember, frantically beginning to fan again.

Wang Yang turned his head; the maid, fearing reprimand, hastily waved her fan with exaggerated force.

Wang Yang smiled gently: "It's fine. I'm not hot anymore. Rest a while."

The maid froze, stunned, her face flushing involuntarily.

Only when Xiao Baoyue ordered her to leave did the maid snap back, bowing hastily and stumbling out of the room.

Xiao Baoyue had observed the entire scene. She sneered: "Is this how you usually seduce young ladies, Young Master?"

Wang Yang:???

"What's wrong with telling her to rest?"

"Do you remember our previous agreement?"

"What agreement?"

"The one about gentlemen. I said then—if one day you did something ungentlemanly..."

"Wait, why are you so concerned with my private life?"

This was the second time she'd brought this up. Her exact words before were "luring scholar-girls, deceiving virtuous maidens." Unless she was bored or morally outraged—fearing I'd flaunt myself to seduce women—could it be...?

Wang Yang formed a hypothesis.

He could now bluff her—but it would serve little purpose. A card isn't played just because you hold it.

"Private... life?" Xiao Baoyue didn't understand.

Wang Yang feigned impatience: "... It's my private affair. Mind your own business."

"I have no interest in your private affairs—but as before, if you dare use your learning to lure—"

"Wait! Didn't you say last time it was about using the Langya Wang clan's status to lure something or other? Now it's about using your learning?"

Xiao Baoyue paused, a flicker of unease crossing her eyes, then quickly steadied herself: "In any case, I hope you will keep your word."

"Are you even listening? If not, stop talking."

Xiao Baoyue replied firmly: "I'm listening! But that agreement stands—if not, then even if I..."

Wang Yang sighed in exasperation: "You! I'm teaching you here, and you're harping on seduction? Your mind isn't on the right thing—how can you ever master this learning?!"

Wang Yang sighed and shook his head, the picture of a wayward student.

Xiao Baoyue fell silent, muttering softly: "It's just that you're learned..."

Wang Yang glanced at her: "What did you say?"

Xiao Baoyue smiled innocently: "You're so learned, that's why I came to you for guidance! Please continue."

"You've distracted me—where were we?"

"You were saying maternal kin drew scholars, and scholars allied with maternal kin..."

"Right. Scholars originally despised maternal kin's monopolization of power, yet by late Han, a convergence emerged. Both sought to expel eunuchs; those above, morally, could not ignore the threat; emotionally, they could not bear to act.

Like chickens and geese in the outer courtyard seeking to drive out the dog in the inner courtyard—the dog, ever by the master's side, relied upon to guard the gates—would the master truly wish to remove it?

Moreover, scholars prized reputation and integrity, and their actions often grew impetuous. For example, Cheng Jin, governor of Nanyang, executed wealthy merchants allied with eunuchs, arrested their clans and guests, and killed over two hundred in one sweep. Zhang Wang Wang Jian killed over a hundred relatives and guests of a palace eunuch. Public outcry surged, each vying to be seen as most zealous in purging eunuchs—until matters spiraled beyond control.

Acts such as executing pardoned criminals, killing without imperial decree, torturing entire families—all these, to the emperor, appeared violations of law and defiance of authority. Thus, the First Party Prohibition was launched; over two hundred scholar-officials were dismissed and sent home.

From the scholars' view, this was slander by eunuchs, the emperor's stupidity. But they dared not accuse the emperor directly, so all blame fell on the eunuchs—insults and denunciations poured forth as outlets for rage.

Li Ying was dismissed and returned to his hometown, residing in Yangcheng Mountain; scholars across the realm revered his moral path, condemning the court as corrupt. Fan Pang, released from prison, was met by thousands of carriages from Nanyang scholars!

Those condemned by court were instead honored. This was the emperor suppressing with power, the people defiantly building reputations to oppose him—now the divide between top and bottom was starkly clear.

Fueled by passion, reclusive scholars openly criticized, judged ministers, evaluated officials. Thirty thousand university students spread rumors, elevating scholars as paragons—until titles emerged: Three Jun, Eight Jun, Eight Gu, Eight Ji, Eight Chu.

Jun meant the world's revered; Jun meant the elite; Gu meant those who led others by virtue. Their collective momentum had grown threateningly close to the throne.

And among this, there was one crucial point most feared by the emperor..."

Wang Yang fell silent here.

Xiao Baoyue, deeply absorbed, asked: "What crucial point?"

Wang Yang said: "I've told you so much. Now tell me something."

Xiao Baoyue frowned: "Tell you what?"

"Why did you make me memorize the Nanman Tongkao? What's your real intent?"

Wang Yang had laid his groundwork—and finally asked the question he'd long wanted to pose.

Xiao Baoyue raised an eyebrow. Wang Yang said nothing. The air grew tense.

Then Xiao Baoyue smiled: "Even if you didn't ask, I would have told you."

Wang Yang watched her, waiting.

But Xiao Baoyue shook her head: "Not yet."

"I understand."

Wang Yang made no objection.

Seeing he neither pressed nor persisted, Xiao Baoyue asked again: "What was that crucial point feared by the emperor...?"

Wang Yang smiled: "Even if you didn't ask, I would have told you."

Xiao Baoyue instantly felt a bad premonition!

——————

Note: The Later Han partisans often held noble ideals; their integrity and aspirations I deeply admire. But historical records often obscure the truth—this too is fact. For example, the Book of the Later Han, Biographies of the Partisans, records Zhang Wang Wang Jian:

"At that time, the palace eunuch Hou Lan's family resided in Fangdong, oppressing the people and acting unlawfully. Wang Wang Jian submitted a memorial accusing Hou Lan and his mother of crimes, requesting their execution. Hou Lan intercepted the memorial, preventing it from reaching the emperor, and thus became his enemy... He then falsely accused Wang Wang Jian of conspiring with twenty-four men from his commandery as partisans, and the court issued warrants for their arrest."

According to this account, Zhang Wang Wang Jian was persecuted because he accused Hou Lan and his mother, his memorial was blocked, and he was falsely branded a partisan.

This is a typical historical trope: eunuchs conceal the truth, the emperor is deceived, and loyal ministers are arrested.

But is this truly accurate?

Qu Qu Yuan Hong's Annals of the Later Han offers an alternative account:

"Wang Wang Jian repeatedly submitted memorials, but they were intercepted by Lan... He ordered soldiers to capture and kill Lan's mother, pursued and arrested Lan's family and guests, killing over a hundred... He razed Lan's estate, filled the wells, cut down trees, and destroyed all chickens, dogs, and household goods. Lan, known for his sycophancy, protested his innocence... The emperor, noting Wang Wang Jian was merely a local official who acted without prior petition, ordered his arrest and trial by the Court of Judicial Review..." (This passage is too long—I've placed the full version in the 【Author's Note】.)

Though still involving a memorial blocked from reaching the emperor, the aftermath was direct: Zhang Wang Wang Jian killed Hou Lan's mother and her entire household—over a hundred dead, not a chicken or dog left alive ("all chickens, dogs, and household goods utterly destroyed"), wells filled, trees cut down—evidencing his deep hatred of eunuchs.

Moreover, the surrounding text records Hou Lan's illegal acts and explicitly calls him "habitually sycophantic," showing no bias in his favor.

Though the Annals of the Later Han predates the Book of the Later Han, this alone doesn't prove its superiority—there is internal evidence within the Book of the Later Han itself.

The Book of the Later Han, Biographies of the Partisans, records another scholar, Qu Qu Yuan Kang: "At that time, the scholar Zhang Wang Wang Jian killed the palace eunuch Hou Lan's mother and arrested his clan and guests; some fled into the Tai Mountain region. Kang, who long despised eunuchs, pursued them relentlessly, leaving none to escape."

Meaning: Qu Qu Yuan Kang assisted Zhang Wang Wang Jian by eliminating the "remnants" who fled from him. This explains why Zhang Wang Wang Jian was hunted most fiercely—those who sheltered him suffered "broken families" (meaning total ruin: families destroyed, relatives exterminated). Dozens were executed for aiding him; entire clans were wiped out. Why? Because Zhang Wang Wang Jian murdered over a hundred people—grave crimes warranting severe punishment. The logic holds.

Even so, we cannot conclude the Annals of the Later Han's account is definitively correct, for other sources claim that after Hou Lan's mother died, Zhang Wang Wang Jian desecrated her tomb—not killed her. To debate this further would be too complex; I omit it here.

Yet through the literary arrangement of Zhang Wang Wang Jian's story in the Book of the Later Han—especially its "inconsistencies" or "critical omissions" when compared to the account of Qu Qu Yuan Kang—it becomes clear that the historian Fan Ye held a deliberate, unmistakable bias.