Chapter 106: Calamities and Anomalies

As the year’s end approached, some people’s days grew more and more comfortable, while others found them especially harsh.

Among them, Duan Jiong’s political decline was almost completely exposed. Most discerning observers could see his current weakness and powerlessness — no vital post, no troops deployed, the two trusted aides who had held his old forces together both killed, and the failure of his military gamble had greatly disappointed both the Son of Heaven and several major eunuchs.

That day on Tongtuo Street, it was not so much that Gongsun Xun’s blade did anything; rather, it was that Grand Commandant Duan simply could not draw his own blade at all! And no matter how many blades you have, no matter how sharp they are, what use are they if you cannot draw them?

And so, these days, this Grandee Remonstrant dashed about everywhere, seeking only to obtain a prominent post. But unfortunately, the scholars would not let him achieve his wish so easily. And this became even more true after Lu Zhi returned unhurriedly from Lujiang and assumed the post of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Office, in charge of selecting officials.

And speaking of Teacher Lu’s return, one cannot help but mention Gongsun Xun’s current prestige.

No matter what, as the first person to expose Duan Jiong as a paper tiger, he had earned people’s respect for his vision and courage. Moreover, that confrontation had openly and clearly established his faction. So, these days, Gongsun Xun’s life truly grew more and more enjoyable.

Never mind that he gradually came into contact with the real affairs of the Secretariat and began his political training at the very center of the Great Han court; never mind that through Tian Feng and Wang Yun he came into contact with the circle of “angry youths” at the Censorate. Just consider that now, even when he fed the chickens at the Secretariat, there was a constant stream of “chicken friends” coming to feed chickens with him!

Hmm, of course, one must add here that Gongsun Xun was ultimately a disciple of Teacher Lu, and that dignity was beyond question. So, among this group of “chicken friends,” if someone’s family lacked money to hold a ceremony, or if someone’s family lacked a carriage for travel and felt it a loss of face, as long as they spoke up at this chicken-feeding spot… at the time, no words were said and no promises were made, but after a couple of days, nine times out of ten, someone would come to their door to help.

Over time, the name “Central Terrace Chicken-Feeding Kitchen” actually vaguely surpassed the titles “White Horse Zhonglang” and “Tongtuo Street Tiger Cub”! It was clear that when it came to spreading a name, one still had to rely on the mouths of the scholars.

And later on, to sustain the situation before him, Gongsun Xun actually had to buy the courtyards to the left and right of his residence together… In fact, apart from Lou Gui, who remained in Goushi to continue his game of “gathering desperate fugitives,” most of the others — such as Lu Ziheng and his wife, Han Dang and most of the White Horse Volunteers, and even Gongsun Fan — had all now moved into Luoyang City.

Doing this served both the purpose of handling affairs together and the consideration of Gongsun Xun’s personal safety, and it was also preparation for striking out in all directions in the future.

However, compared to these clear-cut personal fortunes, when one returned to the broader environment of the court, the atmosphere these days was truly elusive and hard to grasp.

After the earthquake, the court’s response was fairly swift. At the first grand court assembly, the Son of Heaven, as was customary, dismissed Minister of Works Chen Qiu as a response to the celestial phenomenon.

But the matter did not end there.

A few days later, led by Liu Tao, several dozen people from the Secretariat jointly submitted a memorial, stating bluntly that within a single month, celestial phenomena had occurred at both the beginning and the end of the month, and that they clearly should not be addressed separately but interpreted together. They then explicitly and unmistakably declared that merely dismissing the Three Excellencies was useless, and that further response should be made from the perspective of “yin encroaching upon yang.”

The implication was just short of pointing at their noses and saying the eunuchs were monopolizing power.

Yet, what people found paradoxical was that after a memorial of this scale was submitted, the Son of Heaven’s reaction was very intriguing… He actually had no reaction at all!

He neither summoned Cao Jie, Wang Fu, and the others to rebuke them, nor did he throw Liu Tao and those people into prison to have them “beaten to death”! He simply turned a deaf ear.

At this, everyone grew uneasy.

One must understand that in this era, celestial phenomena were by no means mere “superstition.” Or rather, even if they were “superstition,” it was a superstition that the vast majority of people under heaven believed in or accepted… If you randomly stopped a commoner on the streets of Luoyang and asked, they would certainly be deeply convinced of this. Everyone felt that a solar eclipse and an earthquake within a single month must mean something was wrong with the court and the Son of Heaven.

In fact, not only did Liu Tao himself firmly believe in his own judgment, but after the earthquake, even Cao Jie specifically consulted some Confucian scholars who had aligned with him, asking what exactly should be done about this matter. Yet what could be done? The great Confucian of the realm, Liu Tao, had already provided the standard answer, and these so-called “eunuch faction” Confucian scholars were also helpless.

And so, what people found paradoxical was that while the Son of Heaven showed no reaction, it was instead the Grand Prolonger of Autumn, Cao Jie, who oversaw court administration, who became quite cautious himself and voluntarily reined himself in considerably for a time.

What kind of situation was this? Could it be that Cao Jie, a eunuch, was more brilliant and martial than the Son of Heaven?

In the end, even Gongsun Xun could not help but privately harbor doubts… because in his view, even if the Son of Heaven of the old Liu family had some vague, clear-headed understanding of these celestial phenomena, he still should not ignore them, right?

After all, the concept of “Heaven-Human Resonance” was not only the scholars’ last restraint upon the Son of Heaven, but in fact the final means of maintaining the relationship between the Son of Heaven and the scholars… Setting aside the actual meaning behind the celestial phenomena, just to appease the scholars, he should have made some symbolic response, shouldn’t he?

If he even ignored this, then what exactly did these scholars, who were at the very least one of the pillars of the court, count for in the eyes of this Son of Heaven?

Gradually, more and more clear-headed people began to voice such sentiments… When people gathered in private, the topic of discussion was no longer merely the matter of “yin encroaching upon yang” itself, but increasingly focused on the Son of Heaven’s attitude.

“We must submit another memorial!” That morning, on a day of rest, in the small hall at the rear courtyard of Wang Yun’s residence, someone could not help but slap the table and rise. When everyone focused their eyes, they saw it was yet another Attending Censor from the Censorate.

“It must be that the eunuchs in the Northern Palace are deceiving His Majesty!” This man raised his cup and cried out. “We must build up enough momentum, we must make His Majesty understand the harm the eunuchs are doing to court administration…”

“Well said.” Wang Yun, seated at the head, angrily hurled his wine cup to the ground and also rose proudly. “If one were merely farming and studying at home, that would be one thing. But since we have come to court, as the saying goes, ‘eat the sovereign’s salary, be loyal to the sovereign’s affairs.’ With the court in its current state, how can we, who dwell in the court hall and carry out the duties of censors, sit by and watch the eunuchs monopolize power?!”

Seeing the leader of the remonstrance officials so impassioned, the young Attending Censors below all echoed him one after another.

However, Gongsun Xun, seated on the left, could not help but furrow his brow slightly upon hearing this. How was Wang Yun so far from the image of one who plans thoroughly before acting? Of course, on second thought, he then felt relieved… Wang Zishi was certainly a figure, but Dong Zhuo was even more of a figure; his later forbearance and inaction seemed more like something forced upon him. And once he struck back in a single moment, his true nature immediately revealed itself thereafter.

“Why does Wenqi furrow his brow?” Wang Yun suddenly noticed Gongsun Xun’s reaction. “Is there something improper in what we have said?”

“Not at all, not at all,” Gongsun Xun hastily replied. “It is just, Lord Wang, a mere phrase like ‘eunuchs monopolize power,’ with no concrete basis, how could it possibly deal with people like Cao Jie and Wang Fu? One must always seize upon specific matters to make a case, right?”

At these words, those around him shook their heads one after another, and even Tian Feng, who was right next to Gongsun Xun, could not help but sigh.

At this, Gongsun Xun grew even more puzzled.

“Wenqi has only recently arrived in the capital and just entered the central administration; it is normal not to understand the intricacies here,” Wang Yun said, stroking his beard and sighing. “You do not know, but the evil deeds committed by the eunuchs’ sons and younger kin are piled up like mountains at our Censorate, and our Censorate has never ceased submitting related memorials… It is just that the eunuchs control the Yellow Gate, naturally cutting off the inside from the outside. Memorials that directly name someone’s specific crimes are extremely difficult to deliver before the imperial presence.”

Gongsun Xun was briefly startled, then immediately understood.

Wang Yun meant that the eunuchs controlled the Yellow Gate system around the Son of Heaven. If a memorial targeted a specific individual’s case, it would certainly be blocked in a targeted manner. Moreover, even though the other party did not say it, one could imagine… if an Attending Censor persistently impeached and memorialized against a particular eunuch’s kin over a long period, it would inevitably invite direct retaliation, and for that, death and the extermination of one’s clan were possible.

As for relying on local officials to deal with these eunuch kin, the lesson of the Partisan Prohibitions was right before their eyes… Nowadays, where was there a local official who dared to directly deal with eunuch kin? Or rather, of those local officials who dared to deal with eunuch kin back then, how many were still in the court today?

Of course, Wang Yun was undoubtedly one of them. His family’s power in Bingzhou was too great, so back when he was still just a minor official, he had audaciously killed a Junior Yellow Gate Eunuch. But there was a price: he himself escaped disaster, yet his patron and protector, the then Grand Administrator of Taiyuan, Liu Zhi, was imprisoned and executed.

And this was precisely an important reason why Gongsun Xun believed Wang Yun could be relied upon in the matter of exterminating the eunuchs — there was a blood feud of life and death between this man and the eunuchs.

In summary, given the situation before them, seizing upon the matter of celestial phenomena and calamities to continue relentlessly pursuing the attack, blowing the matter up, and creating sustained pressure on the eunuchs was indeed a logical course of action… and it seemed to be the only course of action.

However, just as Gongsun Xun acknowledged this reasoning, and while the Attending Censors were continuing to discuss the matter of submitting memorials, a servant of the Wang residence suddenly burst into the small hall in the rear courtyard, disrupting the interaction of the young officials.

“What is it?” Wang Yun could not help but grow angry. “Did I not tell you that you are not permitted to disturb me when I am feasting and drinking with my colleagues? Especially in the rear courtyard!”

“Reporting to Master,” the Wang household retainer hastily prostrated himself and reported, “it was not intentional to disturb the Master, but someone has suddenly come to visit outside the gate… Here is a name card presented.”

Wang Yun’s expression eased slightly, and he immediately gestured for the man to present the name card. After just one glance, he abruptly rose: “Quickly, invite him in!”

The servant dashed out, but the people in the hall did not understand the reason.

“It is the recently dismissed Minister of Works, Lord Chen (Chen Qiu), who has sent someone to visit,” Wang Yun said with a solemn expression. “Lord Chen is a renowned minister of the realm. That day, had he not spoken out righteously in the court hall, debating with Cao Jie and Wang Fu, Empress Dowager Dou almost could not have been buried together with the Late Emperor. Gentlemen, why not come out with me to welcome him…”

The crowd naturally nodded in agreement one after another.

“This matter has now become difficult to handle,” just as everyone was rising, Tian Feng remained sitting unmoved, and even sighed with some regret, causing those around him to look at him askance.

“What does Yuanhao mean by this?” Wang Yun was greatly puzzled, and Gongsun Xun also had a face full of doubt… Of course, the former could not understand Tian Feng’s reaction itself, while the latter was curious about this conclusion based on his trust in this man, who possessed what he considered the highest intelligence value he had ever seen in his life.

“Lord Chen was dismissed precisely because of the celestial phenomena,” Tian Feng sat there and explained solemnly. “In other words, the court has already reached a public consensus that the earthquake was his fault. And now, his sending someone to find us must mean he wants us to stop relentlessly seizing upon the matter of celestial phenomena to make our case, lest it implicate him…”

“Lord Chen would not go so far…” Wang Yun immediately frowned. “After the solar eclipse that day, we also submitted memorials, and I did not see Lord Liu say anything.”

“Not so,” Tian Feng explained calmly. “Brother Zishi should know that Lord Chen, who was dismissed because of the earthquake, is not the same as Lord Liu, who was dismissed because of the solar eclipse. Lord Liu is of imperial clan lineage and a renowned family, and also the current Emperor’s teacher. No matter what, he is as steady as Mount Tai; as long as he sits at home, sooner or later he can calmly ascend to the position of the Three Excellencies again. Lord Chen, however, rose from being a county magistrate in Hebei, toiled diligently in governance, and relied entirely on the former Lord Qiao (Qiao Xuan) setting aside personal grudges to recommend him, only then could he ascend to the Three Excellencies… He likely places rather great importance on official position, and presumably hopes to one day ascend to the Three Excellencies again with an unblemished reputation.”

Most of the people were skeptical, and even Gongsun Xun was impatient to verify Tian Yuanhao’s caliber.

However, just as everyone had reorganized themselves and gone out to welcome him, the messenger from Chen Qiu actually strode directly inside, arriving at the rear courtyard of the Wang residence.

This man, though also dressed as a scholar and a young man, was over seven feet tall, with sword-like eyebrows and a beam-shaped cap. He walked with a dragon’s stride and a tiger’s gait, and moreover, with a solemn expression and his hand on his sword, he possessed quite an inviolable warrior’s bearing… Several Attending Censors almost simultaneously turned their heads to look at Gongsun Xun, and the latter also looked at this man with keen interest.

To be honest, setting aside the habit of judging people by appearance in this era, a person who could display such a commanding presence in their movements and posture truly inspired admiration. Just as Gongsun Xun had held his blade crosswise in the street that day, this man, merely by walking proudly, also possessed a certain presence.

“Shen Pei of Wei Commandery, pays respects to Lord Wang.” The man arrived before the hall, raised his head, and offered a salute.

Gongsun Xun, who had been watching with keen interest just moments before, immediately turned his head to glance at Tian Feng beside him, and his mind fell into tangled confusion.

"I have long admired the great name of Shen Zhengnan." Wang Yun quickly helped the man to his feet. "I heard that back when Lord Chen was County Magistrate, you had not yet come of age but were already his most capable subordinate officer. And when Lord Chen repeatedly suffered censure from the powerful, Zhengnan never showed a flicker of hesitation, following him faithfully for many years. For Lord Chen to send a trusted confidant like you to my residence today, this must surely be his personal intent…"

Shen Pei stepped back half a pace and cupped his hands in salute once more: "I am of a vehement nature and poor with words. Today I have but a single message to convey on behalf of my lord."

"Please speak."

"I ask that all of you cease submitting repeated memorials regarding the earthquake." Shen Pei answered with a solemn expression. "That is all."

"That is all?" Wang Yun turned to glance at Tian Feng, unable to suppress a sigh.

"Indeed." Shen Pei showed not the slightest trace of embarrassment. "If I may speak bluntly, I know that you gentlemen gather here often with the intent of eradicating the eunuchs. This is a matter that scholars ought rightfully to undertake — there is no debating it. But if our Lord Chen can remain long in the position of the Three Excellencies, he will surely be of greater benefit to this cause. I ask Lord Wang and all you worthy men to give this careful thought!"

Quite a few of those present turned pale… To be frank, although this group gathered here did have a clear intent to oppose the eunuchs, most of them probably only wished to submit memorials and speak out on matters. Not every one of them necessarily dared to mention the words 'exterminate the eunuchs' as lightly as Tian Feng had done earlier on Tongtuo Street. And now, hearing Shen Pei evaluate their gathering so bluntly, they were rather frightened instead.

In any case, Wang Yun, who had been prepared for this, remained silent for a long moment before finally nodding in agreement.

Seeing that he had received his answer, Shen Pei said no more, nor did he show any intention of lingering. He simply turned and departed directly.

"The matter of submitting memorials is hereby dropped!" After watching this uninvited guest leave, Wang Yun turned helplessly to see his guests off. "Everyone, be careful not to disclose today's events, and then return to your own homes!"

Upon hearing this, the group of young scholars, mostly Attendant Censors, hastily took their leave one after another.

For a moment, only Gongsun Xun and Tian Feng remained in the rear courtyard of the Wang residence.

"None of those people can be relied upon." Tian Feng stepped forward and sighed to Wang Yun. "They can only create a bit of momentum."

Wang Yun grew even more dejected but could only console Tian Feng with effort: "I understand what you mean, Yuanhao. But without an imperial edict from the Son of Heaven, how can we deliver a single decisive strike? And if we wish to stir the Son of Heaven, we must always have these people lay the groundwork and build momentum… Rest assured, Yuanhao, if we could gain the Son of Heaven's assent for even a single day — even just half a day — I, Wang Zishi, would stake my life on killing these villains who bring ruin to the realm."

Tian Feng remained silent, but could not help turning his head to look at Gongsun Xun, who had been standing to the side all along, lost in thought.

"Why has Wenqi remained so still?" Wang Yun quickly asked. "Have you gained some insight?"

"Not at all!" Gongsun Xun came back to his senses and hastily bowed in reply. "It is only that hearing Lord Wang's words, I could not help but lament how difficult the times are, and I wonder when this blade of mine might finally be of use."

Wang Yun slowly nodded.

Half a quarter-hour later, outside the courtyard of the Wang residence, Gongsun Xun and Tian Feng neither took a carriage nor rode horses. They simply had their servants follow at a distance while the two of them strolled slowly, chatting idly.

"Brother Yuanhao is truly astute and surpassingly wise. The moment Lord Chen sent someone, you already knew the outcome." Gongsun Xun praised him sincerely.

"There is no need for such words." Tian Feng's expression was despondent. "I have been in the Censorate for a year now and have grown accustomed to such scenes… How many times have we mustered our courage, yet never managed to accomplish anything."

"Then may I ask, Brother Yuanhao, what did you mean earlier when you said the time is right to exterminate the eunuchs?" Gongsun Xun asked, puzzled. "You were not simply humoring me, were you?"

"Exterminating the eunuchs still depends on the Son of Heaven." Tian Feng answered calmly. "Cao Jie and Wang Fu, these two, have remained entrenched for so long. Now that the Son of Heaven has come of age, he will surely have his own misgivings. Moreover, when I saw two calamitous portents occur within a single month, I thought the Son of Heaven might be stirred to action…"

"So that is how it is." Gongsun Xun nodded. Unlike himself, who knew the truth in his heart, for the other man to have thought this far could already be called penetrating insight into human nature.

"But faced with such an excellent opportunity, we were powerless." Tian Feng continued. "It only makes my words that day seem like empty boasting."

Gongsun Xun suddenly burst out laughing.

"Does Wenqi see a way out?" Tian Feng's heart stirred involuntarily.

"I was thinking." Gongsun Xun smiled faintly upon hearing this. "If, out of consideration for Lord Chen, the earthquake matter is no longer convenient to raise, then why not switch to another matter and make an issue of it? What if, within ten days, another portent appeared in Luoyang? Would the Son of Heaven be able to endure it?"

"Can you summon a celestial phenomenon within ten days?" Tian Feng could not help but be speechless. "If so, why not summon a bolt of lightning to strike the eunuchs dead directly, and we can all just sit comfortably at home."

"A celestial phenomenon I cannot summon… but what of a man-made calamity?" Gongsun Xun stood with his hands clasped behind his back and asked calmly.

Tian Feng fixed his eyes on the man before him and remained silent for a long time.

"All calamitous portents are of several kinds, namely: disrespect in bearing, excessive rain, sartorial aberrations, fowl calamities, green balefulness, houses collapsing of their own accord, false rumors, drought ballads, wolves devouring men, calamitous fires, winged-insect prodigies, great floods, waters changing color, great cold, hail, mountains rumbling, locusts, earthquakes, landslides, ground caving in, great winds uprooting trees, stem-borers, cattle plagues, dragon-and-serpent prodigies, human transformations, the dead returning to life, pestilence, rainbows appearing at improper times, solar eclipses, the sun being embraced, yellow auroras about the sun, lunar eclipses not in their proper month… If the August Ultimate is established, the Five Affairs will be correct and proper. If punishments and faults are brought into guilt, rebellion and disorder will gradually encroach. Fire sinks and water rises, wood weakens and metal sours. Prodigies are never random; observe them through the vapors and flames." — Book of Later Han, Treatise on the Five Elements

(End of Chapter)