Chapter 360: The Diligent Chancellor Yang Serves the State

Yang Bin's residence was not far from the imperial traveling court, and its guard was equally strict—fully several dozen armored warriors, fully armed and exuding an air of overbearing ferocity. They were all clansmen and retainers who had followed Yang Bin for many years, with more than a dozen fierce soldiers bestowed by Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan serving as his personal escort.

The sky had already darkened deeply, and the cold around was astonishing, with a biting wind that pierced straight through to the bone.

In the warm chamber, beside the sleeping couch, the chancellor of the Great Han, Yang Bin, was still bent over his desk working. Yang Bin was a standard tall man of Shandong; after several years of busy life as chancellor of a great dynasty, his lanky frame now radiated full authority, having completely shed that vulgar air of the "grass-hut clique."

Having finished handling the official documents, he set down his brush, placed it on the brush rest with a sense of ritual, put away the scrolls, and called for someone. Before long, a subordinate clerk entered and waited in fearful reverence for his orders.

"Send this document back to the Eastern Capital, and have the Ministry of Personnel implement it accordingly. For officials of this sort who violate regulations, they must be dealt with severely and strictly!"

Yang Bin's tone was exceptionally cold and harsh.

The clerk before the desk was clearly one of Yang Bin's trusted confidants, already aware of the matter. Receiving the order, he could not help hesitating and asked: "Chancellor, disposing of more than a dozen people at once—is that not too great a stir? Among these people, quite a few have deep backgrounds. Vice Bureau Director Zhang Yisu is the only son-in-law of Chancellor Wang of the State Finance Commission, and Chancellor Wang has been your friend for many years. For merely a minor lapse..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Bin coldly rebuked him: "The laws of the Han are strict and severe; they brook no such scheming and wavering from the likes of you. The court of this Great Han has reached the time when it must be purged once more. Say no more—send the document and be done with it. Hesitate again, and this old man will not forgive you!"

"For the sake of prudence, should we... should we first submit it to Your Majesty for review?" The subordinate asked again, but under the cold pressure of Yang Bin's gaze, his voice grew smaller and smaller, and he hastily changed his words: "This subordinate will go handle it at once."

Then, as if fleeing, he withdrew and left.

Alone before his desk in the guest quarters, Yang Bin watched the clerk's hurried retreating figure, and his expression slowly softened. After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh. He did not know since when even these subordinate staff had begun to question his decisions. In the old days, he, Chancellor Yang, had been one who could summon wind and call rain in the court of the Great Han—a man whose word was law.

Ah...

A wave of weariness washed over him, and Yang Bin could not help raising a hand to gently stroke his temple. Though it was beyond his field of vision, Yang Bin seemed able to feel the graying strands of hair there. Setting everything else aside, for the sake of the Great Han Empire—which had been buffeted by storms ever since its founding—Yang Bin had labored day and night. Though he was not favored by the Son of Heaven Liu Chengyou, as chancellor of the Great Han, Yang Bin still devoted himself wholeheartedly to his duties.

Drawing a deep breath, he somewhat composed his slightly depressed mood, picked up another document from the stack on his desk, opened it for review, and raised his brush to write his endorsement.

The cold night grew ever more bitter, and time slipped away swiftly without notice. Suddenly, a gust of eerie wind swept in, blowing out completely the feeble candle flame that was nearly spent.

His vision went dark, his brow furrowed, and Yang Bin immediately called out: "Someone! Light the candle!"

A bright flame flared up. Entering was an old servant dressed as a steward, both hands carrying a three-candle lamp stand.

"Master, the night is deep. You should rest early!"

"Wait until I finish endorsing these few documents!" Yang Bin replied offhandedly, head still buried in his work. "You may withdraw now. I need no attendance here."

Seeing this, the old servant could not help urging: "Master, you are so diligent—on this northern inspection tour, still toiling for the state day and night, forgetting food and sleep. And the Son of Heaven neither knows nor cares. Why bother?"

The old servant's words were clearly speaking up for Yang Bin, voicing grievance on his behalf. Hearing this, the brush in his hand paused. Yang Bin looked up at this old servant who had followed him for many years and shared a close bond with him.

It was only because he knew of the man's loyalty that Yang Bin, given his temperament, did not unleash a merciless tirade. Even so, he still issued a small warning: "When I was still of humble station, you followed me, all the way to my becoming chancellor of the Great Han. After all these years, you should know my character and conduct. Such words should not come from your mouth. Moreover, with your base and lowly station, how dare you presume to criticize the dignity of the Son of Heaven? Things are not what they were in the old days. By my side, you must be more careful in speech and conduct, and act with propriety!"

Chastened by this lecture, the old servant sighed and bowed respectfully: "Yes!"

Yang Bin immersed himself back in his official business. The old servant did not leave, and noticing the fatigue on his master's increasingly aged face under the bright yellow lamplight, he took the initiative to say: "Master, let this old servant massage your shoulders."

Being indeed tired, Yang Bin readily agreed.

While skillfully kneading Yang Bin's shoulders, the old servant spoke in a casual, conversational tone: "During the day, a letter came from home—written by my worthless son. He said Fuzhou is poor and remote, and he cannot bear its hardships. He wants to return to the Eastern Capital. This old servant was thinking..."

Hearing this, Yang Bin's aged brows immediately knit together. While pondering, he said: "There is something evasive in your words!"

Not waiting for an explanation, Yang Bin continued: "I think it is not your son who wishes to return, but rather my own wayward son who can no longer endure it!"

Yang Bin had three sons. His second son, Yang Tingwei, had previously, due to ***, persecuted subordinate military officers, and had been reported to Liu Chengyou, who referred the matter to Yang Bin for handling. Enraged at his son's hatefulness, Yang Bin demoted him to Fuzhou to serve as a minor clerk.

Seeing through his words, the old servant was somewhat embarrassed. Though his tone lacked conviction, he still mustered his courage to offer advice: "Master, Fuzhou is remote and distant, far off in the western frontier—a poor and bitter land. Within its borders there is no peace, military troubles are unending, and these past two years it has suffered continuous disasters. Such a place is truly a land of tigers and wolves. The Second Young Master has been there for nearly two years now—he should know his mistake by now. The purpose of the punishment has been achieved. Why not recall him, let him serve at your knee, and discipline him face to face? It would also ease the pain of separation..."

Hearing this argument from the old servant, Yang Bin showed a look of surprise on his face, studied him carefully, and after a moment's thought said: "For you to be able to say such words, you have indeed made some progress!"

Then his expression turned stern: "However, it is precisely because of these words that he must remain in Fuzhou. Otherwise, summoning him back would not only hand others a handle against me, but I fear he would also ruin the family reputation of our Yang clan. Those wanton deeds of his in Fuzhou—how could they escape my knowledge?"

"Moreover, the current situation at court..." At this point, Yang Bin's expression grew gloomy. Flicking his sleeve with a sigh, he said: "Enough. Let us not speak of it. Later I will write another letter and send it to Fuzhou, to that unfilial son of mine..."

Seeing that Yang Bin had made up his mind, the old servant tactfully said no more.

Suddenly, from outside the door came a discordant clamor, as if some disturbance had arisen. Yang Bin, already in a bad mood, immediately grew angry. Just as he was about to send the old servant out to see what was happening, the captain of his guard rushed into the hall, his face full of panic.

Yang Bin lightly pounded the desk and demanded: "What disturbance is this outside? Such haste and disorder—what kind of decorum is this!"

"Chancellor..."

He only managed to utter two words before a dense sound of footsteps came from outside, mingled with the clashing and scraping of armor plates.

His expression changed. Gazing intently, within the span of a few breaths, he watched as Zhao Yanjin and Zhao Kuangyin led a host of imperial army soldiers, charging in with menacing momentum.

Yang Bin naturally recognized these two imperial guard generals before the throne. Slightly startled inwardly, he clenched his fists within his sleeves, put on the bearing of a chancellor on his face, and demanded: "Generals Zhao, why do you lead troops into my hall on this cold night?"

Zhao Yanjin and Zhao Kuangyin exchanged a glance, neither speaking. They stepped aside, and Wang Jingchong walked forward slowly, expressionless. Giving a bow in the middle, he said in a sinister tone: "This subordinate pays respects to the Chancellor. For disturbing you in the middle of the night, I beg your forgiveness!"

"Wang Jingchong!" Seeing this formation, how could Yang Bin not sense what was happening? He stared at him coldly.

Wang Jingchong stood at ease, meeting his gaze without the slightest fear, and said darkly: "His Majesty has summoned you. If the Chancellor knows what is good for him, you should not make things difficult for us..."