Chapter 460: Before the Year and Season Grow Late

At the fourth watch on the twenty-ninth day of the tenth month, Grand Commandant Liu Yu bid his beloved concubine a word of thanks for her trouble, then hurried straight out the door and departed.

The sky was not yet light — or rather, the fourth watch of a winter’s day is the darkest time of the year. Liu Yu sat in his carriage, lifted the heavy hemp curtain, and looked around on all sides. He saw only pitch-black streets, not a single traveler in sight, and it felt utterly desolate, so he let the curtain fall again.

Come to think of it, this desolation had something to do with Gongsun Xun.

After all, although this General of the Guards was far away at Yexia and did not often come to Chang’an, his thinking and manner had still influenced every part of the north. For instance, the General of the Guards did not forbid refinement and splendor in food, clothing, shelter, or travel, but he utterly detested the wasteful and ostentatious squandering of manpower and resources.

On this point, Cai Bojie had summed it up even more incisively at the Yexia Academy, saying that Gongsun Xun did not forbid luxury, but he utterly detested extravagance.

Those two words were used with extreme precision.

The term “luxury” actually refers specifically to non-farming households putting on a grand display. The reason for this may well be that Lady Gongsun herself came from a merchant background, so Yexia was relatively tolerant of non-farming households — artisans, merchants, officials, soldiers, and the like — and even subtly encouraged them. As non-agricultural industries developed, these industries inevitably brought a great many high-end daily goods, which further fueled this trend, and thus it became “splendor.”

The term “extravagance,” on the other hand, refers specifically to having too many people, and “waste” naturally means squandering resources. In other words, the General of the Guards and his mother utterly detested the waste of manpower. The Yexia authorities had always stressed to every Provincial Governor and Grand Administrator that one of a local official’s chief duties was to combat the waste of manpower. If you had the money, you could keep people, but the people you kept had to work and produce, had to have real jobs, had to be placed in workshops and on farmland — not simply stand there to make you look good.

This was of course correct. Not only Liu Yu, but men like Yang Biao and Wang Yun had always wholeheartedly agreed.

Under such an atmosphere, the scenes of past years — where a great household would travel with thousands of servants following before and behind, more than half of them there purely to attend to people — would probably never appear again in the General of the Guards’ lifetime.

And so it became quite ordinary that the Grand Commandant, who oversaw the Masters of Writing, traveled with only some thirty men and three or four carriages, twenty of those men being mounted guards specially dispatched by the court.

Still, the Grand Commandant was the Grand Commandant after all, and this sense of desolation soon vanished entirely. First, a patrol of soldiers and night watchmen on the street noticed Liu Yu’s retinue and hurried over to provide escort, and the party suddenly swelled to forty or fifty men, with noticeably more lanterns and torches. Then, when they reached the North Watchtower Avenue of Weiyang Palace, they encountered Grand Minister of Works Yang Biao, Minister over the Masses Zhao Qian, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness Huang Wan, and Remonstrance Grand Master Zhong Shao, all in similar states. As these important ministers of the court gathered together, the procession inevitably grew even larger.

The Grand Commandant in front, the Grand Minister of Works and Minister over the Masses behind, and the two Grand Masters with quasi-Three Excellencies treatment behind them — the procession was a mighty sight, four or five hundred men strong.

But all of this came to an abrupt halt before the main gate of Weiyang Palace’s North Watchtower.

The Tiger Guard Army opened the palace gates and came out to receive them. Not to mention the patrol soldiers they had met on the road, even the accompanying attendants and subordinate clerks all stopped in their tracks. Only the several important ministers themselves, under the Tiger Guard Army’s escort, entered the palace and proceeded toward the Masters of Writing.

“There shouldn’t be any trouble today, should there?” The moment he stepped through the palace gate, Minister over the Masses Zhao Qian could not help frowning. “The sky is far too dark...”

“It should be about to snow, that’s why the sky is so overcast. It won’t hinder any major affairs — when the sun comes out, it will brighten up after all,” Grand Minister of Works Yang Biao answered offhandedly. “But how is your younger brother’s injury? I heard that because the Minister over the Masses ridiculed the General of the Rear, the General of the Rear seized him and had him beaten with thirty lashes?”

“Nothing serious.” Zhao Qian frowned even more deeply. “Our family is acknowledged to be barbarians from Shu — we’ve never been afraid of a whipping. It’s the General of the Rear’s arrogance...”

Zhao Qian stopped mid-sentence and drew back, which immediately piqued the curiosity of Remonstrance Grand Master Zhong Shao behind him: “What of the General of the Rear’s arrogance? Does the Minister over the Masses also think it has gone too far?”

“Quite the opposite. I always feel the General of the Rear’s arrogance is somewhat hollow,” Zhao Qian said gravely as he walked. “We speculated before that the General of the Rear’s actions were actually taken on the General of the Guards’ intent, using his hand to purge Chang’an. But judging by my younger brother’s case, it seems more like he acted on his own private authority. Not to mention that he lacked the nerve to deal with me directly — he didn’t even dare to truly strike hard at my brother, only seeking out some shady, dubious nobodies to exact private revenge. How does that look like he truly received the General of the Guards’ authorization? Think back to the Colonels of the Capital Guards during the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling — every single one of them could casually confiscate a minister’s property and exterminate his clan. That day, I even thought our Chengdu Zhao clan would perish here in Chang’an! And in the end, he merely beat my younger brother thirty times and sent him back.”

Zhong Shao fell into thought for a moment, and the others also fell silent. But this silence was soon broken by a fit of coughing from Liu Yu.

“Boan, do take some care of your health,” Grand Master of Splendid Happiness Huang Wan could not help sighing once Liu Boan finished coughing. “You are younger than I am — that was precisely why Emperor Ling designated you as an assisting imperial clan minister back then. How is it that over the years your health has worsened day by day, while mine has not?”

“I’ve made myself a laughingstock before the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness,” Liu Yu hurriedly said with a serious expression.

“Lord Huang’s words are somewhat unfair, though,” Grand Minister of Works Yang Biao beside him interjected with a fair-minded remark. “If not for this burden of assisting the government, how would he have aged so?”

Everyone smiled wryly.

The fact was that the atmosphere among these several important ministers of the Han on the palace road was so harmonious for two reasons. First, Gongsun Xun’s constant pressure from Yexia had forced them over the years to huddle together for warmth. Second, they had experienced too much — not to mention most of the extreme political upheavals since the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling, they had even lived through the chaos of Dong Zhuo. So this so-called “great upheaval” was, in their eyes, really not much of an issue.

Just like that, by the time the several important ministers stepped into the Masters of Writing, the sky had finally begun to lighten slightly. And at the same moment, the first snowflake of the first snow of the fifth year of Jian’an fell to the ground, as if by appointment.

“The General of the Guards failed in a surprise attack on Nanzheng, retreated in haste, and on the road encountered a herd of elk that charged his army formation, causing him to temporarily lose all trace?” Inside the Masters of Writing, after hearing the report from the duty Master of Writing Yang Mi, Liu Yu found it utterly absurd and looked around at those beside him. “Gentlemen, since ancient times, have you ever heard of anything like this?”

“This is far too bizarre!” As Yang Mi’s elder clansman, Grand Minister of Works Yang Biao also scoffed. “A failed surprise attack on Nanzheng might be possible — after all, the General of the Guards only brought ten thousand troops there, and Nanzheng is a famous city. But elk... what do you gentlemen think?”

“What is there to think?” Liu Yu had already reached a conclusion before coming, and now he had no doubt whatsoever. “I believe this is nine times out of ten a false military report deliberately fabricated by the General of the Guards, meant to lure the hearts of men in Chang’an. Think about it, gentlemen — people’s hearts always long for stability. No matter how great the storm, if no second wave arises after three or four months, things will gradually settle. But conversely, if another incident occurs not long after the last one, some people may well be stirred into action, because they had just been stirred once before.”

“But if this is the General of the Guards’ doing, why would he carry out such a thing?” Huang Wan asked earnestly.

“Is it not because the circumstances have changed?” Liu Boan could not help sighing. “Gentlemen, think about it — what exactly do the House of Han, the Son of Heaven, and the ministers and nobles count as to the General of the Guards now?”

Inside the Masters of Writing, in Liu Yu’s private office, the several important ministers all changed color at once.

And Liu Yu spoke bluntly: “In truth, during the campaign against Dong Zhuo, the Guandong coalition, with Yuan Shao at its head, already spoke of re-deposing the emperor or casting aside the court west of the passes. That was also Yuan Shao’s greatest crime. At that time, many of the feudal lords already regarded the court as a burden, or as Dong Zhuo’s private instrument. Conversely, before the General of the Guards campaigned against Dong Zhuo and defeated Yuan Shao, as the scion of a border commandery family, he was not someone the scholars of the realm were drawn to. So at that time, the Han court was indispensable to him, because without the Son of Heaven and without the ministers and nobles, he could not surpass the Yuans — a family that had produced Three Excellencies for four generations — in prestige and popular support, nor could he use the court’s name to gather talent and win hearts!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“By the time he had campaigned against Dong Zhuo and defeated Yuan Shao, the Chang’an court was still indispensable to him, but it was no longer a fatal instrument,” Liu Yu continued his solemn explanation. “At that stage, he mainly needed to use the court’s name to promote his new policies, to use the court’s name to keep Liangzhou tethered, and to use the court’s name to maintain amicable relations with the southern feudal lords. And as it happened, the Son of Heaven was still a minor at the time, so naturally he would not contend for power with him. Chang’an was, for him, typically beneficial and harmless. That is also why, over the past few years, our relations with Yexia actually seemed quite close. But what about now?”

Liu Yu’s words came to an abrupt halt, but those present were mostly the realm’s top political veterans — how could they not understand?

To put it plainly, as Gongsun Xun’s power consolidated step by step, the role of the little Chang’an court was diminishing step by step. At first, without this court, he could not stand firm. Then, having the court in hand was naturally good, but the key was not to let the court slip from his control and be used by others. Later still, it was purely a union of interests — good to have, but no great loss without it. The terrifying part, however, was that as the Son of Heaven came of age, incidents kept arising, while Gongsun Xun’s own authority and virtue in the north and throughout the realm grew ever more illustrious, and his rule grew ever more stable. This relationship could very well develop further — into the so-called little Chang’an court becoming a serious obstacle on the General of the Guards’ path to power!

So what would the General of the Guards do at that point?

At best, he might find ways to weaken and control it.

At worst, he might simply think of purging it and hollowing it out.

The most fatal outcome — and the one everyone present resisted from the bottom of their hearts — was naturally dismemberment, deposition, or even elimination!

This topic was somewhat heavy, but it was something these few men could not possibly avoid.

“If it truly comes to that, we will simply do our utmost when the time comes,” the youngest among them, Remonstrance Grand Master Zhong Shao, said with a rueful laugh after a long pause. “So what does the Grand Commandant mean? How should this matter be handled?”

“Let it stop here at the Masters of Writing,” Liu Yu had long since made up his mind. “Suppress it and do nothing. Wait for news from Zhong Yuanchang’s end — lest some people get hot-headed and be caught red-handed by Gongsun Bogui.”

“But Grand Commandant...” Zhong Shao pointed again at the window. “Outside the window are Jing Youxi’s Tiger Guard troops. Any news entering or leaving Weiyang Palace now inevitably passes through him. What meaning is there in whether we pass it on or not?”

“It is precisely for him to pass it on!” Liu Yu answered sternly. “Jing Youxi is Gongsun Wenqi’s private man. If he cannot discern the source of the news either, he will inevitably be cautious and restrained. But if the source of the news is clear, he will inevitably take action. At that point, we can prescribe the right remedy for the illness.”

Zhong Shao, along with Huang Wan and Yang Biao beside him, all had a sudden realization.

Indeed — if the Masters of Writing held steady and did nothing, yet the news still got out, then the leak must have come from Jing Ze. And once Jing Ze took the initiative to spread it, nine times out of ten it meant Gongsun Xun was fishing. At that point, they could instead immediately summon the various ministers and warn them.

The matter seemed to end there.

But just as everyone was about to relax, they could not help noticing the expression of Minister over the Masses Zhao Qian. The latter’s face was full of strangeness as he stared unblinkingly at that short dispatch.

“What misgivings does Minister over the Masses Zhao have?” Liu Yu and the others could not help being curious.

“I won’t hide it from you, my lords,” Zhao Qian answered seriously, pointing at the dispatch in his hand. “You should know that I once led troops out of San Pass with the intention of attacking Shu, and was stationed on the Longshang plateau for nearly half a year. I know the conditions there quite well. What astonishes me is the word ‘elk’! If one had not truly been there, one could never have written such an account.”

Liu Yu and the others were all stunned.

Because the meaning of Zhao Qian’s words could not be clearer: on the Longshang plateau around Hanzhong and Wudu, elk indeed moved in great herds, and they were indeed capable of charging through small army formations and camps!

In other words, this military report, which seemed utterly absurd, was in fact especially genuine and credible.

“If that is truly the case, then this matter may well be Heaven protecting the Flame Han,” Yang Biao sighed slowly, then slowly shook his head. “After all, Hanzhong is the wellspring of the Flame Han. But it could also simply be that Gongsun Wenqi took extra care in order to purge Chang’an.”

“Indeed, I too merely sighed at the word ‘elk,’” Zhao Qian also sighed, then tossed down the dispatch and looked around with a smile. “After that day, can you gentlemen still not see clearly? Without troops and horses, we can do nothing at all. And if the General of the Guards truly meets with misfortune, when the north falls into chaos, I expect Yexia and the seven provinces of Hebei will rally around his son to protect themselves and slowly plan for the greater situation. Even if Guanzhong becomes unstable, it will probably only fall under the control of someone like Gongsun Zan. If he holds power, the court will only suffer more! It may well be that within three to five days, the Nine Bestowments will be conferred.”

Everyone fell into gloom once more.

“Then let us quietly await news!” After thinking it over repeatedly, Liu Yu finally maintained his original plan. “This dispatch is to be sealed here at the Masters of Writing. Master of Writing Yang — without my order, you are not to speak of this matter to anyone. Let us quietly observe how things develop!”

Yang Mi, who had been standing silently in attendance, nodded.

But just as Liu Yu and the others were about to rise, the man suddenly spoke: "However, before you lords arrived, I had already reported this matter to the Son of Heaven. And the Son of Heaven issued an edict early on: should the Grand Commandant and you lords arrive, after finishing your official duties, you are requested to meet in the front hall... In truth, the Son of Heaven has been waiting for quite some time."

The public room fell utterly silent. Liu Yu stared at Yang Mi for a long while without moving. After a long moment, the man finally turned his head, only to look at the expressionless Yang Biao.

The atmosphere in the public room grew increasingly strange.

"According to the arrangements laid down by the General of the Guards before his departure, the Son of Heaven's external communications — aside from the three Imperial Tutors — even for the Ministers, Palace Attendants, and Gentlemen of the Palace, must all be recorded and approved by the Tiger Guard Army... Are you aware of this?" Under Liu Yu's pressing stare, Minister of Works Yang Biao finally spoke slowly, questioning his own clansman.

"Naturally, I am aware," Yang Mi replied, still impassive. "Therefore, last night, it was the Tiger Guard General of the Household, Jing Ze, who forwarded the message on my behalf; and afterward, it was the Tiger Guard General of the Household himself who was ordered to deliver the edict."

The breathing of those within the room suddenly grew heavy.

And Liu Yu understood in his heart — these people had drawn Jing Ze to their side.

Perhaps they had drawn him over long ago; perhaps today's 'Elk Incident' had frightened the man, and the Son of Heaven had personally enticed him then; perhaps Jing Ze himself had sincerely switched allegiance, for his maternal uncle was a loyal minister of the Han; perhaps he had merely seen the military reports and momentarily lost his composure; or perhaps he was simply feigning surrender on orders; perhaps Wang Yun, Yang Mi, Yang Biao, and even Zhao Qian had all been in collusion from the start; or perhaps most of them had merely converged by chance, all kept in the dark by the Son of Heaven, only realizing it today... But regardless, these people had, at the very least on the surface, drawn Jing Ze to their side!

Jing Ze, courtesy name Youxi, Tiger Guard General of the Household, held the authority over the Weiyang Palace garrison — and might also be, at this moment within Chang'an City... no, perhaps the commander of the largest elite force in the entire Three Adjuncts region right now.

This bargaining chip, at this moment, was enough to overturn the entire situation!

And as it happened, Gongsun Zan had just been invited out of the city by Wang Yun... Talk about coincidence.

"You will bring harm to the Son of Heaven this way!" Liu Yu flew into a towering rage.

"Why does the Grand Commandant not go and argue his case before the Son of Heaven in person?" Yang Mi bowed deeply, speaking with earnest sincerity.

"That is precisely my intention." Liu Yu immediately strode out. At this moment, his only hope was to persuade the young Son of Heaven himself to stop.

————I am the dividing line that cannot be stopped————

"When Dong and Fu had been exterminated, and the Wang clan returned to Handan... the Son of Heaven grew troubled, thinking he had no one to consult. He then asked Palace Attendant Yang Qi, and Qi recommended the former Grand Palace Grandee Wang Yun. At the time, Yun was under censure and resided outside the city, forbidden to enter without authorization, while the Son of Heaven dwelt within the palace, forbidden to leave without authorization. They therefore used a cart carrying waste baskets to bring Wang Yun inside for consultation. At that time, General of the Rear Gongsun Zan oversaw public order in Chang'an. A servant of the Wang clan came forward to denounce them, but before an investigation could be carried out, the Son of Heaven grew greatly alarmed and asked Yang Qi again. Qi said: 'Why worry? Tomorrow, once again use the cart carrying baskets to receive bolts of silk, thereby confusing them. The General of the Rear will surely investigate and find nothing, and then his suspicions will be dispelled.' The Son of Heaven followed this advice. The cart carrying waste baskets entered the city, then left the city again; each time it was searched and found empty, and Zan thereafter harbored no suspicion." — New Book of Yan, Volume 62, Biographies, Chapter 12

(End of Chapter)