Chapter 131: Like Jade

Wang Xing had already begun to see himself as the future Crown Prince, eager to get an early taste of the benefits that power could bring.

Diwu Lun, however, smiled. "Sixth Prince, tell me — how exactly would you repay me?"

"That depends on how Boyu performs."

Wang Xing assumed he had agreed, and so he began to boast: "Dukedoms and marquisates would be nothing. In time, you might even become one of the Four Advisors or Four Generals..."

"How dare you, Wang Xing!"

Before the words had even faded, Diwu Lun's face suddenly hardened. He pointed at Wang Xing's nose and rebuked him: "Though you are a prince, you are still a subject of the throne. To treat the weighty instruments of the court as your own possessions and bestow them in private — do you intend rebellion?"

This grave accusation jolted the lust-addled Wang Xing awake. He stammered, "I did not..."

Diwu Lun put on the air of a loyal minister of the Great Xin, righteous and stern: "If you did not, then how dare you try to bribe an envoy of the court with profit? To make me forget public duty and owe private gratitude — that is disloyalty!"

Wang Xing was utterly bewildered. Diwu Lun continued to lecture him: "When I was in the capital, I heard of a Prince of Changyi in the Han dynasty, Liu He. Summoned to the capital by Grand General Huo Guang to inherit the throne, he grew arrogant and reckless. Along the way, his conduct was repeatedly improper: he sought to buy long-crowing roosters, had his servants load up abducted women for his debauchery, and when he reached the capital's gate, he feigned a sore throat to avoid weeping. In the end, Liu He was deposed on charges of wanton depravity."

"Now, the funerals for the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Prince of Xinqian have yet to be held. Though His Majesty is lenient and has not forbidden marriage across the realm, that does not mean a prince may behave so. The Sixth Prince's position today is far weaker than Liu He's, yet his conduct is strikingly similar — to even entertain such lewd and wicked thoughts is unfilial."

"Consider this, Sixth Prince: how strict is His Majesty with the imperial clan? The Second Prince killed a slave, and paid with his life. Wang Zong painted the Emperor's crown and robes, and was ordered to take his own life. If I were to report the Sixth Prince's disloyal and unfilial words and deeds, what would the Son of Heaven think? Would you still be alive?"

Only then did Wang Xing recall the deaths of his four elder brothers. Terrified out of his wits, he dropped to his knees with a thud, clutched Diwu Lun's leg, and pleaded, "Viscount Kenu, I was drunk just now and spoke nonsense. I meant none of it." Diwu Lun ignored him, walked a few steps toward the door, then glanced back. "Sixth Prince, shall we still go to Xinye?"

Wang Xing shook his head. "No."

Diwu Lun smiled. "And shall we still seize the daughter of the Yin clan as a concubine?"

"I dare not!"

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Wang Xing bowed low. "All matters of the return journey shall be decided by Viscount Kenu."

That was more like it. Diwu Lun's mission this time was simply to come south and haul some cargo. The cargo should lie obediently in the carts, waiting to be delivered from one end to the other so he could trade it for a future — not develop ideas of its own.

Diwu Lun helped Wang Xing to his feet. "To find one's way back after straying is never too late. In that case, the Sixth Prince's disloyal and unfilial words shall remain a secret between us!"

"Diwu Lun actually didn't go through Xinye."

When word came that the envoy party had departed north from the Principality of Xindu, bypassing Xinye and heading straight north toward Yuyang, Liu Yan was surprised. He looked at his younger brother Liu Xiu, who was grinning. "Wenshu guessed right."

The previous month, Liu Xiu and his party had visited Elder Cai in Wancheng, then traveled south to stay with their relatives, the Deng clan, in Xinye. Suddenly, news arrived that the court envoy Diwu Lun had reached the Forward Commandery. Rumor on the street said he might be heading to the Principality of Xindu to escort a prince back to court.

As the place where the Emperor's dragon fortune arose, the Principality of Xindu had a large garrison. Even a major bandit assault would gain no advantage there. But the princes and princesses who left the protection of Xindu's walls were easy targets for harassment.

Among Liu Yan's party, there was indeed someone who proposed sending retainers to launch a harassing strike — Zhu You, who had fled the Imperial Academy with Liu Xiu two years earlier.

This former lecturer at the Imperial Academy, having lost his livelihood, had thrown himself wholeheartedly into the grand plan of the Liu brothers. Zhu You eagerly offered his counsel. He argued that ordinary court envoys always chose routes through wealthy regions to extort perks from local magnates. Diwu Lun should be no exception and would certainly pass through Xinye.

Liu Xiu, however, disagreed and made a bet with Zhu You. Now that he had won, he chased Zhu You to collect his money, even wrestling him onto the bed over it.

Liu Yan stopped their horseplay. "Why was Wenshu so certain Diwu Lun would not pass through Xinye?"

Liu Xiu's expression turned serious. "Diwu Boyu is not like ordinary court envoys."

Liu Xiu recalled Diwu Lun's words and deeds as a Palace Gentleman in the capital: "He has a reputation for filial duty and righteousness. He delights in charity — whenever he had surplus wealth, he shared it with his village and clan. He rode in a broken cart, drove a mare, and lived with extreme frugality."

"So Boyu would not, like others, indulge in the banquets and bribes of great houses. He would put his mission first. That was not hard to guess."

Zhu You countered, "Even if the envoy and the prince don't pass through Xinye, they're still not far away. Bosheng, Wenshu, my plan can still work. Send a dozen death-sworn men to strike the rear escort — hit and run, leave no evidence. But the Yin and Deng clans of Xinye will find it impossible to clear their names!"

Zhu You's strategy was strikingly similar to the Li Tong brothers' plan to divert trouble southward. Although the Liu brothers had been plotting for two years — Liu Bosheng now commanded several hundred retainers, and Liu Xiu had stockpiled thousands of piculs of grain for the family, enough to rally four or five thousand men from their clan and village — compared to the Forward Commandery's garrison troops or the Jingzhou Governor's anti-bandit army, their strength was still far too small.

To succeed, they needed to draw in more powerful clans. The Yin and Deng clans of Xinye were the obvious first choices.

The Deng clan were already in-laws of the Liu family. The second brother-in-law, Deng Chen, would join without hesitation.

The Yin family's direct heirs, Yin Shi and Yin Xing, both admired Liu Yan's chivalrous spirit. Liu Yan was confident he could bring them in as well.

If the three clans joined forces, they could muster over ten thousand men. The great enterprise would be within reach.

But whether it was Deng Chen or the Yin brothers, they were the minority voices in their families.

If the prince's envoy party were attacked near Xinye, and a little "evidence" were left behind, the Yin and Deng clans would be unable to clear themselves. They would be forced to make a choice.

Liu Xiu opposed the idea. He frowned, about to argue, but Liu Yan had already rejected the plan. Resting his sword across his knees, Liu Yan said, "A true man does some things and refrains from others."

"Only Wang Mang resorts to such despicable tricks. Liu Bosheng acts with honor and openness. I want the Yin and Deng clans to aid me with sincere hearts, not to be coerced by treachery."

"Elder Brother, your righteousness is lofty!" Liu Xiu was overjoyed. "Your younger brother wholeheartedly agrees."

If they followed Zhu You's plan and the uprising came early, Liu Xiu might have had a proper pretext to propose marriage to the Yin clan, who would be caught up in the affair, and return with the beauty in his arms. But in Liu Xiu's heart, though love weighed heavily, it was still lighter than their great enterprise.

Liu Xiu said, "Right now, the Forward Commandery's armies are massing. Once we rise, the Jingzhou Governor's twenty thousand conscript troops will be to our south, and Zhen Fu's commandery troops to our north. Caught in a pincer, our clansmen, untested in battle, would face a powerful foe and surely be defeated."

"Better to let the Greenwood Army in Jiangxia serve as the whetstone, slowly grinding down the government troops' strength, slowly grinding away Nanyang's trust in the court. Only when they are utterly exhausted shall we seize the moment and rise."

Liu Yan clenched his wrist. "Wouldn't that just be following in the ox's wake?"

Liu Xiu spoke with conviction: "At the end of Qin, the first to rise were Chen Sheng and Wu Guang. But though their names shook the age for a time, they quickly failed and fell. It was Emperor Gao, though not the first to rise, who ultimately won the realm. Elder Brother, better to grasp substance than to chase a name!"

The matter was thus settled. The Liu brothers simply watched as Diwu Lun passed by Xinye without entering. But as Liu Xiu looked up and down, he recalled past events, his heart full of mingled emotions.

"When I was at the Imperial Academy in the capital, I watched Diwu Lun repeatedly decline office. I guessed he had no ambition for an official career and might even still cherish the Han. One day, when Elder Brother's great enterprise succeeds, Diwu Lun could serve as a renowned scholar-recluse, helping the Great Han recover its old capital — a talent fit to be a general or a chancellor."

"It's just a pity..." The world is unpredictable. The Diwu Lun who once repeatedly declined office had now soared to become a new favorite of Wang Mang, drifting ever further from Liu Xiu.

"It seems he's made up his mind to be the dog of that false emperor, Wang Mang." Liu Yan had often heard his brother praise Diwu Lun until his ears nearly grew calluses. Boyu might be fine, but if he did not stand with them, he was an enemy!

"Perhaps he was forced into it by circumstance. It's hard to say there isn't still room for a reversal in the future." Liu Xiu thought to himself, "I never even had the chance to tell Diwu Lun my real name. Perhaps there will never be another opportunity."

Though he did not know whether they would be friends or foes in the days to come, Liu Xiu felt he should leave something to remember him by. He ordered a servant to drive a cart after the envoy party, carrying one hu of dried grain and thirty jin of cured meat to reward Diwu Lun.

After thinking it over, he felt the gift was too slight to be remembered. He removed the jade jue ornament he wore at his waist and handed it to the retainer. "Say it is a gift from an old acquaintance, Liu Jiao, Liu Wenshu!"

Unlike the leisurely southward journey, spent slowly seeking worthies and visiting guests, on the return trip Diwu Lun applied twelve-tenths earnestness, directing it as if it were a military campaign. The envoy party moved swiftly. By the time the retainer Liu Xiu sent caught up with them, they had already reached Nanshi Settlement, a ferry crossing thirty li south of Wancheng.

Even though they were not passing through the territory of Nanyang's great magnates, Diwu Lun still posted sentries far out. Cen Peng once again demonstrated his military talent, arranging the detached troops front, rear, left, and right with perfect order. Looking at this formation, Diwu Lun realized that even if he brought the Boar-Rush Braves to attack, he would gain no advantage.

The Yue Cavalry Battalion, by contrast, had absolutely no sense of danger. They still marched in a big, careless cluster. With equal equipment, three hundred Yue Cavalry probably could not defeat Cen Peng's two hundred men.

As a result, any passerby or farmer who tried to approach was stopped and driven off by Cen Peng's soldiers. Those who forced their way through were seized outright — even killed on the spot, and it would be no injustice.

Liu Xiu's retainer was caught red-handed and brought before Diwu Lun. He presented the dried grain and cured meat, which the personal guards had already searched three times.

"My master originally planned to host a banquet in Xinye and fulfill the duties of a host, but unexpectedly missed Your Excellency. He wished to catch up and meet you, yet feared Your Excellency might be occupied with official business and unable to receive him, so he sent this servant with wine and meat to offer refreshment, and also presents a rough jade token, hoping Your Excellency returns safely to court."

"Who is your master?"

"An old acquaintance from Chang'an days, Liu Jiao, Liu Wenshu — might Your Excellency still remember him?"

"Of course I remember!"

His future "Chief Clerk of Records" had delivered himself right to his door — Diwu Lun was overjoyed, yet also a little regretful. He asked Cen Peng if he knew the man. Cen Peng shook his head, not recognizing the name: "The Chongling Liu clan flourishes with people; its different branches number at least several hundred. Quite a few have attended the Imperial Academy over the years. Among them, Liu Bosheng is the most renowned, a knight-errant throughout the commandery. The others are somewhat less distinguished. This Liu Jiao... is probably obscure and unknown."

Diwu Lun accepted the fine jade. It was said to come from Mount Jing; its color was not especially fine — after all, it came from the child of a mere small landowner. The jade was carved with a pattern of one stalk bearing nine ears of grain, likely symbolizing a bountiful harvest.

Although Liu Wenshu's name was not prominent in the commandery, the matter of him being an Imperial Academy student showed the man possessed considerable resourcefulness. He was merely fine jade obscured by dust, bound to reveal its luster sooner or later. If he were willing to come serve, Diwu Lun would not begrudge brushing away that dust for him.

"A gentleman is like jade — warm to the touch. Holding this jade to my breast, it is as if I clasp Wenshu's hand."

Diwu Lun accepted it gladly. A gift received demands a gift returned. He felt about his person, but had nothing suitable to give in return. The jade pendant he usually carried had long since been sent with a letter to Ma Chanchan as a betrothal token during the Naji ceremony.

He slapped his forehead and hurriedly fetched his treasured sword — the one Huan Tan had given him. Diwu Lun had used it in the northern lands to slay corrupt officials and kill Xiongnu. Naturally, he could not lightly give it away to another. He merely removed the jade sword pommel.

This object is also called a jianzhi; giving it as a gift often signifies the closest intimacy. Diwu Lun had heard that back when Wang Mang was dismissed from office and returned to Xindu, he once attempted to present a jade-adorned sword to a man. The man would not accept it. Wang Mang detached the pommel and offered that — still the man would not accept. Wang Mang then said: It is not that I intend bribery, but your face bears blemishes and spots. I have heard that fine jade can remove scars. Since you will not accept the whole jade, surely you cannot refuse a broken piece?

And so Wang Mang smashed the precious jade sword pommel, wrapped the fragments, and presented them — a story that became widely told and admired.

Diwu Lun had no intention of deliberately imitating this; he simply had nothing else on him. He handed it to the retainer and said: "I departed in haste and have no fine thing to offer in return — truly a breach of courtesy. Though this jade is not precious, I have carried it onto the battlefield, and it has drunk its fill of barbarian slave blood. I give it to Wenshu."

"Tell him that I am presently detained by official duties and cannot attend the banquet. Once I return to the capital to report, I will before long send a man bearing gifts to invite him north for a meeting. He must not refuse!"