Chapter 164: Press Down the Gourd, the Ladle Pops Up

Diwu Lun didn't receive Jing Dan's letter until he returned to Yecheng.

He tore it open impatiently and began to read. Jing Sunqing had been a close friend of Diwu Lun's back in the Guanzhong region, but their official careers had diverged after they both resigned as Palace Gentlemen — Jing Dan had been reassigned to Shuodiao (Shanggu Commandery) in You Province.

Now that Diwu Lun had also come to the You-Ji region, he was hoping to renew their old bond. In the letter, he poured out his troubles about lacking capable hands and expressed his hope that Jing Dan could recommend some worthy talents from Yan. In truth, he was hoping Jing Dan's heart would soften and he would come south to help him. The hint was blatant: "The worthy talent I want is none other than you, Sunqing!"

But although both were in "Hebei" in the broad sense, Diwu Lun was at its southernmost edge while Jing Dan was on the far northern frontier, over a thousand li away. The letter had been sent off in the autumn right after Diwu Lun took office, and by the time a reply came back it was already spring — showing how arduous the journey was, even more troublesome than a round trip to Chang'an.

Geng Chun, also a friend of Jing Dan's, stood beside Diwu Lun and glanced at the letter, only to hear Diwu Lun sigh with emotion: "So Sunqing has been promoted again. He's now serving as Chief Clerk, working at the commandery office (in Huailai, Hebei)."

At this news, Geng Chun merely pointed at Diwu Lun and laughed: "Boyu, oh Boyu — Chief Clerk, isn't that the highest office you have the authority to bestow on your own?"

The scoundrel had hit the mark. Diwu Lun truly did want to poach Jing Dan. Commandery affairs were overwhelming, and with only Geng Wuguan at his side capable of shouldering responsibility alone, he desperately needed someone like Jing Dan, a man he knew through and through, to help.

Besides, Shanggu was bitterly cold, barren, and remote — how could it compare to the wealth and prosperity of Weicheng, situated in the heart of the Central Plains? Given his relationship with Jing Dan, as long as he swung the hoe skillfully, he ought to be able to pry him loose.

But Diwu Lun's hopes were clearly dashed. Jing Dan still politely declined him. In the letter, he said that because he had received such generous favor from Geng Kuang, the Governor of Shuodiao, he served him as he would a sovereign and dared not lightly abandon him. He also said that once the spring planting was done, he would try following Diwu Lun's example and resign from office to see what happened.

"Boyu, you made your move one step too late." Geng Chun was gloating again. "Jing Sunqing is already someone else's prize — he's a fine subordinate official of my Geng clan now."

What are you so smug about? Diwu Lun glared at him. "Sunqing serves the Maoling Geng clan. What does that have to do with your Songzi Geng clan?"

"A hundred years ago, we were one family." Geng Chun immediately perked up. "The Julu Geng clan split in two during the time of Emperor Wu of Han. One branch went to Maoling to spread its leaves, and now, with my family in the east and theirs in the west, we're two fruits on the same tree. But we still keep in touch. By blood, we're far closer than you and those Diyi, Disan, Diba, Dishi clans of yours!"

"There is no Dishi."

Once again feeling the sting of having his wool sheared, Diwu Lun said sourly: "It seems your clansman Geng Xiayou is indeed extraordinary, to have won Sunqing's wholehearted devotion."

"Naturally." Geng Chun never held back when boasting about his own family. "My elder cousin Xiayou became a Palace Gentleman through his mastery of the classics, and later studied the Laozi under Master Anqiu together with the Emperor's cousin. In terms of learning, he is versed in both Confucianism and Daoism. As Governor of Shuodiao for over ten years, he trained three thousand You Province shock cavalry, so that the Wuhuan dare not violate the border, and the frontier has been at peace because of him."

The man had a ten-year head start on him. Diwu Lun could only hope to prevail by striking later, so he smiled and said: "But I hear he has a son — your clansman's son, that is — named Geng Yan, also a young man of outstanding talent."

"True. He's a few years younger than you, even."

Geng Chun said: "My nephew Bozhao loved learning from a young age and followed his father's profession, but he was even fonder of martial arts, especially the arts of war and generalship. Every time the Shuodiao Commandant holds the grand military review, he takes part as a cavalryman, raising banners and beating drums, practicing galloping and archery, and performing the art of stealing fine horses."

Diwu Lun clapped his hands. "What a coincidence! I just happen to have a vacancy for a Commandery Military Advisor!"

Geng Chun understood his meaning. "Boyu, you want to recruit Bozhao into your service?"

Exactly. Diwu Lun's thinking was always unconventional. Want the father? First win over his daughter. Get robbed of a worthy talent? Then decide to take the man's son as compensation!

"Would you be willing to write a letter, Boshan? Speak of the new atmosphere in Weicheng, and try to persuade him on my behalf?"

Geng Chun thought it over. It was indeed feasible. Officials of the two-thousand-bushel rank, like powerful local clans, also had their social and marriage networks. To avoid suspicion, one's own sons and nephews could not be freely promoted within the home commandery, so it was an unspoken rule to arrange mutual recommendations with others.

As for quotas like Imperial Academy students or Filial and Incorrupt nominees, in this chaotic age, Geng Yan probably had no interest. But Geng Chun knew this clansman's son loved the way of commanding troops. Idled in Shuodiao by his father to avoid suspicion, with no official post, he might well be interested in coming to Weicheng to try his hand as a Military Advisor and show his skills.

And so the matter was settled. But with the difficulties of traveling back and forth between north and south, even if Geng Yan was willing to come, it would be summer by the time he arrived. Diwu Lun soon threw himself into the complex affairs of arranging the spring planting, which would determine the year's livelihood.

He sent Huang Chang to gather information and learned that in several commanderies already ravaged by Jingshang's imperial army, the horrific sight of cannibalism had appeared in the very heart of spring. Even more refugees were trying to cross the river into Hebei to make a living. The recruitment banner Ma Yuan had raised at Liyang had taken in another two hundred men, reaching Diwu Lun's target of training a thousand soldiers by spring.

Those flowing into Wei territory were still a minority. The greater number of refugees turned eastward instead, to join the Red Eyebrow Army, whose fame had soared after killing Jingshang in a single battle.

Fan Chong's strength swelled enormously, surpassing his predecessors — the rebel armies of Mother Lü and Li Zidu — to become the great brigand of the Guandong region. Scattered refugee chieftains from all over flocked to pledge allegiance to him.

Day and night, Diwu Lun dispatched men to watch the new course of the Yellow River in the neighboring commanderies. Any stirring from the Red Eyebrows was to be reported back.

"The good news is that the Red Eyebrow Army did not advance westward. Instead, they went north to attack Qing Province at the northern foot of Mount Tai. Ever since that Governor of Jiping, Tian Kuang, was transferred away by Wang Mang, affairs in the Qi region have indeed deteriorated."

Since performing too well got you transferred away, the commandery Grand Governors grew increasingly conservative, pulling their commandery troops back to the commandery and county cities. They simply exploited the Red Eyebrow Army's poor siege capabilities, but abandoned the vast countryside and rural villages. Joining the Red Eyebrows or being stripped clean by them became the only two choices for the common people of Qing and Yan provinces.

But there was bad news too. That woman Chi Zhaoping, who last month had invaded Yuancheng with the intention of digging up Wang Mang's ancestral graves, had led her followers to join the Red Eyebrows. She had also dyed her eyebrows an earthy red and become a "Follower" under their command.

There was also a piece of news that made Diwu Lun smile knowingly.

In Shouliang Commandery, separated from Weicheng by the old course of the Yellow River, a man named Dong Xian had raised a revolt at a place called Mount Liang, beside the Great Wild Marsh in the southeastern part of the commandery. He too called his force a detached division of the Red Eyebrow Army.

"What mountain?"

Diwu Lun confirmed it repeatedly. It was indeed "Mount Liang," no mistake — named so because Emperor Wu of Han's uncle, Prince Xiao of Liang, had once hunted there.

"Hahahaha."

His subordinates could not fathom why their lord had suddenly burst out laughing. But in his heart, Diwu Lun was only thinking: should he send that apricot-yellow brocade banner — the one he and Ma Yuan had used in New Qin, bearing the words "Execute Heaven's Way" — to the Mount Liang bandits?

Diwu Lun was laughing like a child over the coincidence of Mount Liang, but when a stream of reports reached Chang'an at the end of the second month, the Emperor, Wang Mang, could not laugh at all.

Wang Mang's mood had originally been quite good. In the first month of spring, the Wang clan's Nine Temples, built by demolishing many Former Han palaces, had finally been completed, and the spirit tablets were installed. Wang Mang made a rare trip out of the palace to pay homage to his ancestors, praying for peace under heaven.

That day, his grand imperial carriage was drawn by six horses, each draped in patterned armor of five-colored feathers woven into dragon designs, with a single horn three chi long mounted on their heads. Had Diwu Lun seen it, he would likely have cried out in shock: "It's you — a unicorn!"

A nine-tiered canopy was also constructed, eight zhang and one chi in height, mounted on a "four-wheeled cart" specially designed on Wang Mang's orders. As the procession advanced, the honor guard at the front all shouted: "Ascend to immortality!"

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But Wei Ao, who had been reduced to a marginal figure after the State Preceptor lost power, watched this scene and only murmured to his friend Wang Yuan, Marquis of Qiongcheng: "This resembles a hearse, not a vehicle fit for immortals."

As a member of a great clan from Longyou, Wei Ao watched the court deteriorate day by day and had begun to harbor thoughts of disloyalty.

But as long as the Emperor was happy, it was as if the ancestral spirits truly blessed them. Good news came from the south: Yan You had defeated the Nan Commandery bandit Qin Feng, killing over a thousand and forcing him back into the Jing Mountains, opening the road from the Han River to Nan Commandery and Jiangxia. He then swung his forces south and, under orders, began encircling and suppressing the Greenwood rebels, trapping the Greenwood bandits in the mountains.

This was originally good news, but who could have guessed that just as the gourd in the south was pressed down, the ladle in the east would pop up with a splash — and not just pop up, but fly several zhang out of the water, splashing Wang Mang right in the face.

"The Red Eyebrow bandits have killed my Grand Preceptor Xizhong Jingshang! Twenty thousand imperial troops have scattered, and both Yan Province and Qing Province troops have suffered heavy losses!"

This matter threw the court officials into great shock. Jingshang was the highest-ranking court official to die in battle since the internal campaign against bandits began. It meant the situation in the east was out of control.

For a time, panic gripped Chang'an. Wei Ao said privately to others: "No wonder the Ba Bridge caught fire a few days ago. Thousands were sent to fight it, yet they still couldn't put it out — it burned for a full day and night. So it was an omen of the great defeat in the east."

On top of this, Wang Mang received a memorial from Diwu Lun, Grand Governor of Weicheng Commandery, reporting that the Red Eyebrow detachment under Chi Zhaoping had invaded Yuancheng, where the ancestral graves were located. Fortunately, he had provided timely relief and driven them back, but Weicheng's mere four thousand commandery troops could no longer cope with the swarming bandits...

However fierce the Greenwood rebels were, they only circled around Greenwood Mountain. But the Red Eyebrows had already fought their way from Langya on the Eastern Sea to Mount Tai, and were even setting their sights on his ancestral graves!

If this could be endured, what could not? Every sign indicated that the Red Eyebrow Army in the east was a far graver threat than the Greenwood Army in the south. Such a great bandit force could not go without a heavy blow from a major imperial army!

Seeing the Emperor's resolve to send a large force to suppress them, Grand Minister of Works Wang Yi, who had been idle for over a decade, was once again eager to try. He secretly thought: his old rival Yan You had been dispatched south to deal with the Greenwood rebels, so the task of striking the Red Eyebrows would surely...

To his surprise, Wang Mang once again passed over Wang Yi and appointed the very two men Diwu Lun had once mocked as "the two great geniuses, Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix."

"Wang Kuang!"

"Lian Dan!"

The two ministers who had once single-handedly tricked the Swallow-the-Hu General Han Wei into riding out beyond the border to his death, causing Wang Mang's war against the Xiongnu to end inconclusively, cursed their bad luck but could only step forward and accept the command.

They heard Wang Mang's edict read thus: "Alas, the calamity of the Nine Extremes converges with baleful qi, culminating in the past year. Drought, frost, and locusts, famine unceasing, the hundred surnames weary and destitute, wandering the roads — especially bitter this spring — drifting and falling into banditry. I grieve for them deeply."

"I shall now issue an edict to every commandery: open the granaries of the east, provide relief and loans to the destitute, and thereby cut off the brigands at their source."

"Grand Preceptor of the Eastern March, Specially Advanced, Marquis of Baoxin, Wang Kuang; and General of Renewal, Marquis of Pingjun, Lian Dan: you two shall march east to suppress the Red Eyebrow bandits, pacifying and governing the territories under your charge."

Lian Dan and Wang Kuang exchanged glances. "We obey the edict, Your Majesty. But from where shall we conscript our troops?"

Should they, like Yan You, simply take a few hundred men out of the pass and levy troops on the spot in Yu Province? Or what?

Wang Mang now understood that internal troubles far outweighed external threats. Ignoring the Xiongnu menace at his flank, he simply gave the order:

"Bandits so vast and formidable, capable of killing General Jing Shang, cannot be quelled without crack troops and elite soldiers. You are authorized to deploy the Boar-Rush Braves from the border regions of Bing Province, together with troops from within the Pass — over a hundred thousand picked men. Proceed to Yan Province and annihilate the Red Eyebrows! As for the lawless brigands in Qing and Xu who have yet to fully disperse, wipe them out cleanly as well."

"It is not that I delight in killing; I seek only to bring early peace to the countless common folk of the realm!"

…

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