Chapter 205: Three Military Governors Raise the Banner First

In Xiuwen Ward in the southern city of Luoyang—a ward that had survived since the Tang dynasty—the name remained, but its former splendor was no more. Even so, it was still a fine choice for meritorious nobles and high ministers to establish their residences.

Situated within it was a marquis's mansion, the secondary residence in the Western Capital of Hou Zhang, Military Governor of the Zhenguo Army.

In the evening, within the mansion's main hall, bells rang and cauldrons steamed with food, servants attending in droves. Hou Zhang hosted a banquet, inviting old friends and acquaintances to come for a chat. The guests were Wang Yan, Military Governor of Jianxiong, and Zhao Hui, Military Governor of Baoyi, both of whom had likewise been summoned by imperial decree to the Western Capital for an audience.

As for how deep the friendship among these three men ran—not particularly. But last year, the three had killed Khitan officers and officials in Shanzhou, held the city and raised the banner of righteousness, submitted their memorial to Jinyang, and supported Liu Zhiyuan as emperor. By any reckoning, theirs was a bond forged in revolution. Since it was rare for them to be together, when Hou Zhang extended the invitation, the others felt obliged to give face.

Hou Zhang, Zhao Hui, and Wang Yan were all veteran generals nearing sixty, having served through three dynasties. Yet in decades of military service, even by the time of the Later Jin, the highest post they had reached was merely a senior officer in the imperial army—mid- to low-ranking officers.

In fact, had the Khitan not destroyed the Later Jin last year and the realm of China not collapsed, giving the three a chance to rise, they likely would never have broken through their ranks. But heroes meet their time—even in old age, they leapt from mere junior officers to military governors of entire regions, gaining power, prestige, wealth, and fame all at once.

After the establishment of the Great Han, the court had repeatedly commended the three. Whether under Liu Zhiyuan or Liu Chengyou, they were the typical example of the court's policy of treating regional governors well. Moreover, Zhao Hui and Wang Yan both possessed talent for defending their territories.

As for Hou Zhang—heh. He was another typical military brute, notorious for greed and corruption. In less than a year governing Huazhou, he had fully exposed himself, with no good governance to his name. Compared with Zhao and Wang, he came up short. Of course, if one were to compare by how bad they were, Hou Zhang was still somewhat better than those rapacious, brutal, murderous military men who treated human lives like grass...

"Brother Zhao, Brother Wang, let me toast you both again." Though Hou Zhang was old in years, his spirit seemed exceedingly vigorous, his health excellent. He drank his wine by gulping it down in one go.

"Brother Hou, please!" Zhao Hui and Wang Yan responded, somewhat more reserved. They merely took small sips.

Scanning the table laden with fine wine and delicacies, Zhao Hui wore a solemn expression and advised Hou Zhang with good intentions: "The state is impoverished, the Son of Heaven advocates frugality, and the court has banned alcohol. When we feast like this, we should exercise some restraint..."

Hearing this, Hou Zhang immediately shook his head, emboldened by drink, speaking without caution: "Brother Zhao need not worry. Can the Son of Heaven really control what we eat and drink? We've spent decades in the army, suffered for decades—now that we're old, are we not allowed to enjoy ourselves? Where in this world is there such a principle? Besides, yesterday when the Emperor hosted a banquet, did he not bring out imperial wine to entertain the various military governors? It's no concern."

Seeing Hou Zhang's attitude, Zhao Hui wisely did not pursue the topic further, stopping at the appropriate point. He exchanged a glance with Wang Yan across the table, as if reaching a tacit understanding: this man was not one to form deep ties with.

Huazhou and Shanzhou were neighbors, so he had naturally heard of Hou Zhang's rapacious behavior in Huazhou. Since the man would not heed advice, there was nothing to be done.

Having drunk a fair amount, Hou Zhang wore a look of great satisfaction. Riding the wine's high, he sighed with emotion: "Think of us three—originally in the imperial army, our names unknown, looked down upon by others. And now, we are all military governors, seated in command of our own regions, enjoying wealth and glory. Such fortune—Heaven truly favors us."

"We also rely on the trust and favor of the court and the Son of Heaven." Zhao Hui blandly echoed.

"Right, and we must also thank the Khitan. Had they not come south and destroyed the previous dynasty, how could we have had our day in the sun?" Hou Zhang laughed heartily.

"Brother Hou, mind your words!" Toward this man's recklessness, Zhao Hui seemed to be growing impatient.

Hou Zhang, however, was utterly unconcerned, and countered: "Everything I said is true. Brother Zhao, why are you so cautious?"

"Has Brother Hou not heard of recent events in the Western Capital?" Wang Yan, who had spoken little during the feast as the conversation was not to his liking, now said in a deep voice: "Even the chancellor of the Secretariat has been thrown into prison. We have come for an audience alone and unaccompanied—if we do not restrain ourselves, I fear disaster is coming!"

"I say the two of you are overly sensitive. We all have our personal troops back in our prefectures. We came for this audience to give the Emperor face—can he deal with us without cause? As for that Su Fengji, he's merely a literatus, no soldiers, no power, not worth mentioning. These past two days, hasn't the Son of Heaven been courting and placating us..." Hou Zhang grew ever more arrogant, or perhaps the wine was rising to his head, leaving him without restraint.

The wine gradually deepened, but the atmosphere at the banquet slowly turned awkward. Zhao Hui and Wang Yan's spirits were low, while Hou Zhang was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Sensing the poor atmosphere, Hou Zhang gradually grew displeased as well, his unhappiness nearly written on his face. After thinking it over, Hou Zhang took the initiative to ask, raising some serious matters: "Gentlemen, what do you think the Son of Heaven summoned us to the Western Capital for? Yesterday at the palace banquet, though the Son of Heaven's speech went round and round, I still picked up on something. When he spoke of fierce and stubborn elements in the west, of those with treacherous intentions—who was he referring to?"

"It couldn't be us, could it!" Saying this, Hou Zhang couldn't help but crack a joke, laughing aloud: "Hahaha..."

Seeing his drunken state, contempt was thick in Wang Yan's eyes. He somewhat regretted attending this banquet. Downing a mouthful of wine, he said casually: "Of the various military governors the Son of Heaven summoned, who has not come?"

At this hint, it was like a sudden awakening, yet Hou Zhang still asked from his mouth: "Who else did the Son of Heaven summon?"

Zhao Hui was somewhat surprised: "Brother Hou does not know?"

"Why should I bother with others?" Hou Zhang said with an air of utter self-justification.

"Li Shouzhen of Hezhong, and Xue Huairang of Tongzhou!" Seeing this, the corner of Zhao Hui's mouth twitched involuntarily, his expression turning somewhat grave as he spoke.

"Li Shouzhen?" Hearing this, a look of sudden understanding appeared on Hou Zhang's face, and then he couldn't help but laugh: "Well, that's understandable. The Liu family took his daughter-in-law—no wonder Li Shouzhen doesn't dare come to the Western Capital..."

Hou Zhang's utter lack of restraint, daring to directly jest about the matter of the elder Lady Fu, made Zhao Hui and Wang Yan fall silent almost simultaneously, losing all further interest in conversation.

"Brother Hou, the wine has been enjoyed to the full. I, Zhao, shall take my leave." Before long, Zhao Hui rose from his seat to bid farewell.

Wang Yan also stood up shortly after: "There are still matters at my residence..."

"What is the meaning of this, gentlemen? A jar of wine has not yet been finished—how can you speak of being satisfied? If you two take your leave, is it that my hospitality has been lacking?" Seeing the two rise to leave, Hou Zhang was greatly taken aback, firing off a string of questions.

Zhao Hui clasped his hands in salute, his manner still fairly cordial, and said: "I am deeply grateful for Brother Hou's generous hospitality. It's just that I, Zhao, cannot hold my liquor well—after all, I am advanced in years, and an old injury has flared up. It would not be convenient to suffer a hangover."

Wang Yan, however, dispensed with pleasantries: "Farewell!"

The two had made up their minds to leave—how could Hou Zhang possibly detain them? Though angered, he did not rise from his seat, letting the household servants see them out.

The banquet came to an abrupt end, and the awkward atmosphere in the hall was instantly broken. Hou Zhang sat behind his table with a dark face, his expression very unpleasant.

A drunken flush congealed on his aged face. Hou Zhang couldn't help but belch, then viciously hurled the wine cup in his hand to the ground, raging: "Zhao and Wang have insulted me!"

"Master."

"Clear it away, clear it all away!" Pointing at the banquet, Hou Zhang said impatiently.

On the other side, Zhao and Wang left the Hou mansion together. Wang Yan stroked his beard, looked at Zhao Hui, and said: "Brother Zhao, this Hou Zhang is not one to form deep ties with!"

Zhao Hui's face was pale, with little sign of drunkenness. Somewhat listlessly, he said: "The Son of Heaven, though young, greatly resembles Zhuangzong. He must not be lightly insulted. If one lacks self-awareness, disaster will surely follow!"