Chapter 375: A New Era

Ten li west of the Eastern Capital, on the outskirts, willows by the roadside hung low but not yet thick, green buds just sprouting, white catkins drifting through the air—a scene of farewell at the long pavilion was playing out.

In early spring, though the morning sun and gentle breeze were pleasant, for Yang Bin, standing here after such great upheaval, it inevitably carried three parts wistfulness, three parts melancholy, three parts emotion, and one part reluctance.

Dressed in plain cloth, simple yet exceptionally neat, without shackles or cangue upon him, the court had still preserved a measure of dignity for Yang Bin compared to ordinary exiled convicts—of course, this was the "grace" granted by the Son of Heaven, Emperor Liu Chengyou.

The escorting constables numbered eight in all, each holding a staff, long knives at their waists, packs slung over shoulders, some standing, some sitting, scattered by the roadside, not daring to disturb the friends and family seeing Yang Bin off.

Those seeing Yang Bin off were not many—besides his two sons and two former subordinates who feared no consequences, there was Chancellor Wang Zhang.

Gazing at the world-weary Yang Bin, Wang Zhang held out a freshly broken willow branch as a gift, saying in a deep voice: "Brother Yang, a thousand feet of feeling, parted in this moment; the road through mountain passes is long—you must take care!"

As the saying goes, a strong grass withstands the gale, and time reveals a man's heart. In such circumstances, with Wang Zhang showing such deep friendship, Yang Bin could not help but be moved, accepting it solemnly: "For this old man to have gained such a true friend, I shall have no regrets!"

Wang Zhang's frame grew increasingly gaunt, no better off than Yang Bin who had long been imprisoned. Noticing his unhealthy complexion, Yang Bin also offered words of advice: "Brother, you have been ill for years and should take good care of yourself. State affairs are tangled and wearying—do not ruin your health."

One could perceive that even having fallen to such a state, Yang Bin still "cared" about court politics...

Moved by his words, Wang Zhang gave a carefree smile and said: "Brother Yang, you worry too much. The court now abounds with talent—why should this old, decaying man trouble himself further? The day I leave court is not far off!"

Hearing this, Yang Bin's brows immediately furrowed somewhat: "What do you mean by that? In the court today, the only ones who can handle affairs are you and Guo Wenzhong. Matters of state and military must be shouldered—you must not act on impulse!"

"A few days ago, I begged the Son of Heaven to let me retire, but he did not agree." Wang Zhang shook his head, giving a faint bitter smile: "Still, my position at the State Finance Commission likely won't last long either. Perhaps in days to come, you and I may yet meet again—who can say..."

Wang Zhang's words carried emotion tinged with some resentment, spoken bluntly: "But now I have come to see things clearly. Old ministers of the former dynasty like us should not sit idly in the halls, merely inviting suspicion. If we read the times and retreat while the current favors us, we may yet enjoy our remaining years in peace..."

Compared to his usual taciturnity, Wang Zhang was now speaking openly and freely. Seeing this, Yang Bin was likewise speechless, dissolving into a sigh. A sudden gust of wind stirred his graying beard and hair; beneath the morning sun the wine had not yet gone cold, but his heart was very cold.

"Enough! Let us not speak of these things—they only add to sorrow. This journey to Yuanzhou is two thousand li away, long and difficult. Safe travels!"

According to Liu Chengyou's decree, Yang Bin was to be exiled three thousand li, but with the Eastern Capital as the starting point, the territory of the Northern Han could hardly satisfy that distance, so a lesser alternative was chosen: Yuanzhou, under the Zhangyi Army Military Governor, as the destination—the most remote place in the western frontier of the Great Han.

Wang Zhang added: "Though Yuanzhou is poor and remote, with Hu and Han mixed together, Shi Kuangyi has governed it for many years and carries considerable authority. I have already sent a letter asking him to look after you. I trust Governor Shi will do me this favor."

"You have gone to great trouble!" Yang Bin raised his sleeves and bowed deeply.

"Father, let me bring my family and accompany you to Yuanzhou, to serve at your side and fulfill my filial duty!" At this moment, his eldest son Yang Tingkan could not help speaking up.

Such earnest feeling, however, provoked Yang Bin's fury, spittle spraying straight toward Yang Tingkan's face: "You unfilial wretch, do you truly wish to bring destruction upon our Yang clan?"

"Father, why do you say such a thing?" Yang Tingkan was startled.

A sobbing sound arose—it was a woman beside them unable to hold back her tears, quite sorrowful. This was Yang Bin's wife, clearly distressed over the hard life to come.

Yang Bin found it irritating to hear, and could not help scolding: "Crying and wailing—what sort of decorum is that?"

His words were extremely harsh, his eyes still fixed on Yang Tingkan, frightening the third son Yang Tingyi nearby into silence.

"Your worthy nephew also speaks from a place of love and concern—Brother Yang need not be so harsh!" Wang Zhang advised.

Yang Tingkan still looked bewildered. Seeing this, Yang Bin softened somewhat, then spoke to his eldest son in a warning tone: "That I still preserve this life, lingering on, is not because the Son of Heaven is lenient, but because he fears rumor and gossip. I am in Yuanzhou, you are in the Eastern Capital—so long as you keep to yourselves and cause no trouble, the Yang clan will remain safe. Do you understand!"

Meeting his old father's rarely seen gentle gaze, Yang Tingkan's eyes reddened, and he nodded instinctively.

"Bring wine!" Wang Zhang called out. The servant attending nearby hurried forward and poured the already-cold wine for those present.

They raised their cups and drank to the dregs. Taking the travel pack from Yang Tingkan's hands, Yang Bin and his wife supported each other, about to head west.

"You escorts, take good care of Lord Yang and his wife along the way. If there is any negligence, and it reaches my ears..." Before their departure, Wang Zhang's face was stern, his voice low but exceptionally severe, as he instructed the leading officer.

Escorting Yang Bin on a thousand-li journey west to the borderlands was a bitter assignment, and few of the escorting constables were in good spirits. Still, facing Wang Zhang's warning, they had to put on smiling faces and reply with utmost respect: "Rest assured, Chancellor—we would never dare treat Lord Yang poorly!"

Just as the officer was calling his men to set out, a troop of riders suddenly galloped up the official road from the east, kicking up dust and drawing every eye, including those of passersby on the road.

As they drew near, recognizing the newcomer as Zhang Yongde of the imperial bodyguard, dressed in ordinary clothing, Wang Zhang's expression immediately turned grave, and he could not help looking at Yang Bin. Could it be that the Son of Heaven had changed his mind?

Yang Bin, however, remained perfectly composed, his eyes like a still pool, watching the young and valiant Commander Zhang. The young men around the Emperor were indeed growing more numerous...

Dismounting with a vigorous grace, Zhang Yongde first bowed to Wang Zhang, then stepped forward, sweeping his gaze over Yang Bin, and announced in a clear voice: "His Majesty has decreed: the road of exile is long, and though Yang Bin bears guilt, in consideration of his years of meritorious service as an old minister, he is specially granted a carriage for travel!"

He waved a hand behind him, and immediately an imperial guard drove a horse-drawn carriage forward. Looking at Zhang Yongde, then at the carriage, a flicker of complex emotion passed over Yang Bin's aged face. He no longer struggled against himself, but turned east toward the imperial city and bowed deeply: "This guilty minister thanks Your Majesty!"

After some tidying and another round of farewells, the Yang couple boarded the carriage and, under the escort of the constables, departed for the far western frontier.

Standing there for a long while, watching the procession slowly recede into the distance, Wang Zhang sighed with melancholy: "After this parting, I fear there will be no day of reunion!"

"Chancellor, I shall now return to report to His Majesty!" Before leaving, Zhang Yongde gave Wang Zhang a courteous bow.

Scanning Zhang Yongde once over, curious though he was about his plain attire, Wang Zhang merely said mildly: "Commander Zhang, please do as you wish!"

Not far from where Yang and Wang had parted, on a low hillock, Liu Chengyou withdrew his distant gaze, letting it fall upon the bustling official road, his expression becoming inscrutable.

"Your Majesty wished to see Lord Yang off—why did you change your mind?" Behind him, Wang Qiwu spoke up of his own accord.

Liu Chengyou said casually: "I have set down ten great crimes against Yang Bin. For one guilty of such grave offenses, sparing his life is already heaven's grace. For me to personally see him off might not be proper!"

"Your Majesty's gift of a carriage for travel is already most benevolent!" Wang Qiwu said.

Two thousand li of mountain passes—if Yang Bin's old bones were truly made to walk the entire way, he would likely not survive halfway.

Before long, the conversation of Yang and Wang's parting reached Liu Chengyou's ears. After mulling it over briefly, Liu Chengyou let out a sneer: "That Yang Bin bears resentment toward me—that is only to be expected. But I wonder, where does Wang Zhang's resentment come from?"

None of those around dared to take up this remark.

After a moment of silence, Liu Chengyou gazed westward and raised his hand to ask Wang Qiwu: "Qiwu, am I too cold-hearted?"

Suddenly hearing this question, Wang Qiwu's heart jumped. He stole a careful glance at the Emperor but could discern nothing unusual from his face.

"Your Majesty speaks too gravely!" After pondering briefly, Wang Qiwu answered in a deep voice: "Your minister only knows that from this day forward, in the halls of the Great Han, Your Majesty may hold sole authority!"

Hearing this answer, his expression froze for a moment, and he could not help turning his head to fix Wang Qiwu with a look, which then dissolved into a burst of hearty laughter—rarely so unrestrained...

Two years had passed. Of the ministers Liu Zhiyuan had left behind—Su Fengji demoted, Shi Hongzhao sent out, Yang Bin condemned, Su Yugui nearly retired, Wang Zhang stripped of power... by now, the old forces in court that Liu Chengyou regarded as constraints were indeed few.

From this point on, the halls of the Great Han were completely renewed, and Liu Chengyou's path toward monarchical centralization took a great stride forward.

The Great Han was about to welcome a new era—an era truly belonging to Liu Chengyou.

"I hear that Su Fengji has actually taken up raising horses in Jingzhou. Yang Bin has been exiled to Yuanzhou. These two once checked each other in court, and now they are both in the northwest—perhaps that counts as a kind of fate..."