Chapter 170: I'm Done Pretending

As Feng Yan followed Diwu Lun into the commandery office, he caught sight of a corner of the courtyard, paused to look, and silently praised it: "Quite orderly — it seems Boyu truly governs both within and without, handling great matters and small with perfect propriety. Excellent."

After they entered the hall, Diwu Lun dismissed the attendants, rose from his mat to inquire, and listened as Feng Yan expounded at length:

"On my journey to Yecheng, I observed that Wei Cheng Commandery's plains stretch wide and open; it grips the throat of Hebei and forms the waist and spine of Ji Province. This commandery was once Dongyang of Jin in the Spring and Autumn period; in the Warring States, Wei acquired the territory, grew mighty among the Three Jin, and later it fell to Zhao."

"When Qin grew powerful, its strategy likewise called for seizing Ye first. The First Emperor of Qin ordered Wang Jian to position his hundreds of thousands of troops along the Zhang River and at Ye, and Zhao could no longer hold against Qin. From Chu-Han times onward, Wei Commandery has been called a stronghold; if Boyu trains his troops and stores up grain, he can stand firm in this chaotic age."

"But the defensive strength of Wei's mountains and rivers is not particularly good."

Feng Yan said, "The river's course has shifted, so the east now lacks the barrier of the great river, and the Red Eyebrows' refugees can easily encroach upon the commandery's borders."

He then pointed north: "Due north lies the various commanderies of Zhao territory. Today, governance in Handan and Guangping has fallen entirely to local strongmen, managed by the descendants of the former Han Kings of Zhao; the commandery's two-thousand-bushel officials bow to them, doing no more than nodding assent. Should the realm ever shift, chariots and cavalry issuing from Handan would face no defensible terrain and could reach the outskirts of Ye within two days."

That said, looking at it the other way, a northward march from Wei territory could likewise encircle Handan in two days. Fortunately, with the aid of the Reporting Clerk Feng Qin, the Magistrate of Liangqi was willing to cooperate, and Liangqi County, lying between Yecheng and Handan, was already under the control of troops dispatched by Diwu Lun.

"Thus the defensible points of Wei Cheng are now reduced to the west and south alone. In the south, a Major guards the Baima ford, so there is no cause for worry, while the Fokou Pass leading west to Shangdang has become the critical point."

Wei Cheng Commandery's western boundary is the Taihang Mountains. The Taihang range has eight passes; the fourth is Fokou Pass, located in She County on the upper reaches of the Zhang River. The road is long and narrow, like a throat.

At this, Feng Yan paused briefly, leaned forward closer to Diwu Lun, and smiled: "But I have heard that She County and Fokou Pass are not under Boyu's control. This is like having one's throat gripped by another — unable to breathe, one's life can be taken at any moment."

Diwu Lun praised him: "Jingtong has hit the mark precisely!"

Feng Yan's ability was not top-tier, but this time he had indeed touched on the crucial point. The Li clan of Wu'an had entrenched themselves across the three northwestern counties, where all governance was in the hands of their partisans. They not only controlled the iron mines but also occupied the vital Fokou route in She County. In times of peace, this was tolerable; once chaos erupted, Diwu Lun would find it impossible to sleep soundly.

This was precisely why he was determined, no matter the cost, to eliminate the Li clan of Wu'an!

Feng Yan had followed the situation in Wei territory while serving on the staff of the General of Renewal, and Diwu Lun had, without any apparent reason, sent gifts and asked him to help alter the Boar-Rush Braves' line of march so that they would travel from Guanzhong into Hedong, pass through Shangdang, arrive at She County, and then proceed through Wei Cheng Commandery — his intent could hardly have been more obvious.

Feng Yan proposed: "The idea of having Boyu's old troops seize She County from Shangdang is a good one, but it requires the cooperation of the Grand Governor of Shangdang to allow the army to replenish its provisions and fodder."

"Even if you take Fokou Pass, it still cannot be considered secure. In former times, when Qin armies raced through Shangdang and Henei to threaten Dongyang, Ye became like a louse in the mouth. Therefore, no matter what, you must cultivate good relations with Shangdang Commandery; only then can you be free of worry from the rear."

The court forbade commandery two-thousand-bushel officials from crossing their jurisdictions to collude with neighbors, but with the realm in such chaos now — and Feng Yan himself riding in a carriage of Three Dukes and Nine Ministers rank — who still cared about such things?

Wei Cheng, as a territory contested on four sides, truly could not afford to treat every neighbor as an enemy. Moreover, if he later wished to bring his grandfather and clansmen from his old home, the route through Hedong and Shangdang was also a shortcut.

Diwu Lun understood this perfectly, but he deliberately sighed, put on a troubled expression, and said he had no one to act as an intermediary with the Grand Governor of Shangdang.

"Why not send me?"

Feng Yan, eager to increase his own weight, threw himself into the task and volunteered: "I am well acquainted with Bao Yong, the Labor Section Head under the Grand Governor of Shangdang — we are close, sworn friends."

Diwu Lun had heard this name before: "Bao Yong — could he be the son of Colonel Bao?"

Bao Xuan had been the Colonel-Director of Retainers under the Former Han and had deeply won the people's hearts. He was once imprisoned for offending the Chancellor, which led to the first Imperial Academy movement in history: hundreds of Imperial Academy students blocked his cart and knocked at the palace gates to submit a petition to save him. The man was saved for the time being, but when Wang Mang rose to power, because Bao Xuan was loyal to the House of Han and refused to attach himself to Wang Mang, Wang Mang found a pretext to kill him, making him a famous martyr who died for the Han.

"Bao Yong was in hiding in Shangdang at the time and was summoned by the Grand Governor to serve as a subordinate officer, always kept within the office, and thus escaped disaster. Now he has become the head of the Section Heads whom Shangdang most trusts, and his advice is always followed. If I go to persuade them, Boyu's old troops can pass through Shangdang without worry for food and clothing, and afterward you can even form an alliance with the Grand Governor of Shangdang for mutual protection in this chaotic age."

Diwu Lun clasped his hands toward him: "If I could obtain Jingtong's help, I would sleep soundly. But what of Jingtong's official duties on the staff of the General of Renewal…"

"I will not hide it from Boyu." Feng Yan sighed: "General Lian would not heed my counsel and is determined to fight the Red Eyebrows to the death. Moreover, the subordinate officers indulge the troops in harming the common people, and despite repeated prohibitions, it cannot be stopped. I have grown utterly disheartened with the royal army and have already resigned my post."

Diwu Lun then asked about Lian Dan's military dispositions. Feng Yan no longer needed to pretend and spoke freely of all he knew. When the topic turned to the prospects of success or failure between the royal army and the Red Eyebrows, Feng Yan stated: "If General Lian Dan were campaigning alone — though he was once defeated at Juding, he is by nature always cautious and would never underestimate the enemy or advance rashly. If he proceeds steadily and securely, his chances of victory are perhaps fifty percent."

"But I have heard that the commander-in-chief is Grand Preceptor Wang Kuang."

"Indeed. If the Grand Preceptor were campaigning alone — this man is obstinate and self-willed, impatient for success, but he could also catch the Red Eyebrows off guard. His chances of victory are perhaps forty percent."

"And if the two join forces?"

Feng Yan sighed: "Only twenty percent. This is also why I had no choice but to leave General Lian."

Truly, get a Crouching Dragon or a Young Phoenix, and one alone can doom the Great Xin! After their conversation ended, although Feng Yan could not yet openly join Diwu Lun's service or be formally appointed a Section Head, Diwu Lun still insisted on presenting the seal of Master of Records to Feng Yan.

"The post of Master of Records is humble and its stipend meager, but I am willing to divide my own salary and give half as Jingtong's pay. From this day forward, Jingtong shall be my military advisor!"

…

What Feng Yan valued was, after all, the stability of Wei Cheng; the temporary office was secondary.

Moreover, the position of Commandery Master of Records was in fact quite high, equal in rank to the Labor Section Head, and because the two-thousand-bushel official took him into his confidence, it was even somewhat more important. This post had originally been reserved for Ren Guang of Nanyang, but now it was given to Feng Yan.

Yet having received such generous treatment from Diwu Lun, Feng Yan still felt a small measure of self-satisfaction, thinking that he had secured the position of chief advisor in Wei Cheng.

Reckoning the days, Diwu Lun's old troops should by now have entered Hedong and would soon reach Shangdang. There was no time to lose, so he immediately set out with Diwu Lun's gifts and began the roundabout journey to Shangdang Commandery. After all, She County was still in the hands of the Li clan of Wu'an. Feng Yan therefore had to first travel south, entering Shangdang via the Bai Pass from the Rear Column Commandery (Henei), trudging with difficulty along the narrow Yangchang Slope, and by mid-May he arrived at the seat of Shangdang Commandery, Zhangzi City.

Shangdang was under Bing Province, situated west of the Taihang range. The land was high and broad, only with rather many mountains, and the soil somewhat barren; its population was less than half that of Wei territory. Yet here, too, Feng Yan saw a rare tranquility, and the common people all said it was because the Labor Section Head Bao Yong had ably assisted the Grand Governor.

Feng Yan entered the city as before, in his capacity as an old friend of Bao Yong, and went directly to the Bao residence. At that moment, Bao Yong was still busy at the commandery office. Since Feng Yan had visited several times in past years, the household steward recognized him and first invited him in, entertaining him in the courtyard.

Bao Yong was thoroughly versed in the Book of Documents and placed great emphasis on ritual propriety. By rights, Bao Yong's wife should at this time have hurried out, set out wine, and prepared a feast to receive Feng Yan first. Yet in the end, only Bao Yong's stepmother came out to greet him, which struck Feng Yan as amiss.

He therefore asked the steward of the Bao clan in a low voice: "Where is your young mistress?"

The household steward raised his eyes, and because Feng Yan was no outsider, quietly told him: "She has been divorced by the master."

"What!?"

Feng Yan was utterly stunned. Bao Yong and his first wife had been married for many years and had raised several children together; they had always treated each other with the respect of honored guests. How could he divorce her so abruptly? Bao Yong was not the sort of man to spurn an aging wife out of lust.

The household steward explained: "It was because the young mistress spoke ill words in front of the mistress of the house."

Feng Yan suddenly understood. After Bao Yong's father was killed by Wang Mang, only he and his stepmother remained in the family. Though she was not his birth mother, Bao Yong practiced filial piety to the utmost, personally serving her meals morning and evening. His wife had indeed violated his greatest taboo — well divorced!

The household steward shook his head: "Not so. The young mistress, in fact, merely scolded a dog that was carrying a bone through the hall, right in front of the mistress."

"When the master saw this, he rebuked the young mistress, saying: 'In ritual, there is nothing that does not demand reverence. Even before guests, one does not scold a dog. Yet now you scold a dog in front of my mother — what greater irreverence could there be? It is clear that in your heart you hold no respect for your elders. Since you slight my mother, you are no longer my wife!'"

In the end, his bewildered wife wept and begged forgiveness, pleading with Bao Yong for a chance to reform, but Bao Yong would not listen.

Feng Yan inwardly shuddered, but this was indeed Bao Yong's way. He was a man who could tolerate no speck of dust in his eye and did everything strictly by the book — for instance, when working at the commandery office, he would never return before nightfall.

Sure enough, it was not until Feng Yan had grown drowsy from sitting that Bao Yong finally returned to the residence. Learning that his old friend Feng Yan had come, he did not even change out of his official robes but came directly to meet him.

Feng Yan was instantly no longer drowsy and roused his spirits tenfold, for the stubborn Bao Yong was by no means easy to persuade.

He had heard of an incident: last year, a man claiming to be a court Palace Attendant arrived at the Shangdang post station, and Grand Governor Zhao Xing prepared to go welcome him. But Bao Yong suspected the man was a fraud, because he had neither an imperial edict nor a credential of office, and feared he was an impostor; the Grand Governor must not go.

The Commandery Grand Governor paid it no mind, so Bao Yong, right in front of Zhao Xing, drew his blade and blocked the horse, shouting: "Grand Governor Zhao has shown me the grace of a second life. Today, even if I must offend your countenance, I will never let you fall into danger." A few days later, Wang Mang indeed issued an edict to search for and arrest the fake envoy. Candor, sharpness, and alertness were the bedrock of Bao Yong's character; he acted with strict principle.

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So, on this trip to "form an alliance" and request passage from Shangdang on Diwu Lun's behalf, although Feng Yan had thumped his chest before departing and declared there would be no trouble, he knew that the hardest hurdle to clear was in fact his own good friend Bao Yong. The man had shown no leniency to his wife of many years — how much less to him? He would have to speak with great care.

Bao Yong spoke directly. Upon seeing Feng Yan, he did not engage in excessive pleasantries but simply fixed his gaze on Feng Yan's understated, plain attire and said with a stern expression: "Has Jingtong come on official business for the General of Renewal?"

Feng Yan sighed: "Junzhang, I have left the General of Renewal and will never return."

"It seems Jingtong has finally heeded my warnings and stopped aiding the tyrant in his crimes." Bao Yong was suddenly elated and immediately had wine brought in. "This is a joyous occasion — worth a hearty drink between us!"

Bao Yong assumed Feng Yan had come to Shangdang to return to his ancestral home and seek refuge, and said, "Jingtong, you can rest easy and settle in. Take a few days to recover, and in a few days I'll recommend you to the Grand Governor so you can take up a post in the commandery office."

Feng Yan still had the Registrar's seal Diwu Lun had given him tucked in his robes, and was just mulling over how to tell Bao Yong that he had already switched masters, when Bao Yong brought something up first.

"Jingtong and I have been friends for over ten years — the kind of bond where we could entrust our wives and children to each other. Since you are no longer Lian Dan's aide, there are some things I can now say plainly."

Bao Yong drained a cup of wine in one gulp, rose, and pointed at the dim sky outside. "Before Wang Mang usurped the Han, I repeatedly petitioned the previous Governor to restore the House of Han and eradicate the usurper. At the time, the Governor believed the moment had not yet come and was unwilling to rise together with Zhai Yi, so the matter was dropped."

"But although I serve as an official of the Xin, I have never forgotten my father's loyalty to the Han. I have simply gritted my teeth and endured humiliation for a greater cause."

Between Bao Yong and Wang Mang, there truly was a blood-deep enmity.

"Now, over ten years have passed. The stolen mandate of this false dynasty is nearing its end. In the east, the Red Eyebrows, and in the south, the Greenwood, have repeatedly defeated the government troops. Wang Mang has utterly lost the people's hearts, and his pretense of being a sage has been seen through by all under Heaven."

"I no longer intend to keep up the act."

"The moment to revive the House of Han has arrived! Jingtong, are you willing to join me in this great undertaking?"

……

PS: Chapter 2 at 13:00.

(Chapter 3 at 18:00.)