Chapter 21: A Display of Elegance

Diwu Lun knew Longyou was in the Gansu of later ages, but Wei Ao…

He searched his memory and came up empty. He shook his head decisively. "Don't know him!"

"Diwu Lun, you don't even know of 'Wei Jimeng, the fine colt of the Six Commanderies'?"

Fan Zhu, who had just mocked Diwu Lun's shabby carriage and horses, patted his own big belly and said, panting, "The Wei clan is a great house of Tianrong Commandery (Tianshui). Their household property and servants are no less than the Marquis of Qiongcheng's, and they have several hundred fine horses."

"Ever since Jimeng was recruited as a State Scholar by the State Preceptor and took up his post in Chang'an, he has often gifted fine steeds to others. His own carriage is drawn by a team of four dragon-steeds. You're in luck — you'll get an eye-opening sight soon."

Diwu Lun had little interest in fine horses, but he was somewhat distracted when he heard the words "State Preceptor." Before he could ask more about Wei Ao, however, the crowd cried out.

"He's here, he's here!"

On the road in the distance, two riders cleared the way in front, and behind them the shadow of a carriage could be faintly seen moving. The crowd behind stood on tiptoe, wanting to see how magnificent the fine horses of Longyou were.

The carriage drew closer and closer, and the horses' coat colors became clear. But the Marquis of Qiongcheng, Wang Yuan, and the others were all stunned.

"Why isn't Wei Ao riding in a four-horse team?"

Indeed — one yellow piebald horse and one chestnut horse, just like that, pulling a plainly decorated carriage forward. When it came closer, they discovered that both were actually ordinary mares! What about the promised eight-chi dragon-colts? Why was Wei Ao traveling so modestly today?

According to the unwritten rule of this era, those who rode mares were not permitted to attend gatherings. The crowd fell silent for a moment, thinking there had been a mistake.

But Wang Yuan and Wei Ao were sworn friends, so he certainly would not mistake his friend. Suppressing his puzzlement, he went forward to greet him, only to discover that Wei Ao on the carriage was dressed in plain cloth and unadorned robes today. He was even more astonished — this was not the Wei Jimeng of old, resplendent in fine clothes and fierce horses.

Wei Ao had the appearance of a typical Guanzhong man of Han: tall and large, with a thick beard reaching his chest. But when he opened his mouth, his voice was very thin, and he spoke with cultured refinement.

This was not strange. Although Wei Ao came from a powerful and wealthy clan, he had gained renown through his mastery of the Book of Documents. He had been recruited as a "State Scholar" by the Xin dynasty's State Preceptor and then promoted to Lesser Grand Master. Though his rank and salary were not high, as a trusted aide of the State Preceptor, he wielded considerable real power.

After exchanging greetings with Wang Yuan and seeing the puzzlement on his face, Wei Ao gave a bitter smile. "Huimeng, do not be surprised at my single carriage and humble steeds. This has already become the fashion in Chang'an. In a few more days, this wind will blow all the way to Liewei Commandery!"

"Jimeng, tell us quickly — what exactly has happened in Chang'an?"

Wei Ao took Wang Yuan by the hand and they reminisced, and he began to speak of the recent "governance of Confucius" in the capital.

"Last month, His Majesty issued an edict, saying: When Confucius first took office as steward of Zhongdu, he established regulations for caring for the living and burying the dead. The old and young ate different foods, the strong and weak bore different tasks, men and women walked on separate sides of the road, nothing dropped on the road was picked up by others, and utensils were not carved with false ornamentation. In three months, great order was achieved."

"Now the Four Barbarians on the borders are not yet pacified, yet the fashion of extravagance grows daily, contrary to the teachings of the Sage. His Majesty therefore wishes to emulate the governance of Confucius and promote moral transformation. Starting the day before yesterday, he ordered that, apart from roadside privies being divided into men's and women's, the various lords, gentry, and grand masters must also observe propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame, practicing them in the four matters of clothing, food, shelter, and travel."

This edict had already been sent down to the various commanderies, but apart from rebuilding the roadside privies, there had been no other stirrings. Who could have imagined that the Emperor was serious!

Wang Yuan only found it laughable. Over the past ten years, they had grown accustomed to the Son of Heaven of the Xin acting on every whim. He lowered his voice and said, "I fear it will be like the prohibition on group drinking and the twenty-eight types of ancient coinage — just a passing fancy of His Majesty."

Wei Ao shook his head. "Not so. I have heard that in the Shoucheng Hall (Weiyang Palace), from the Empress down to the palace maids, they have begun wearing knee-covering short skirts again. His Majesty's unlined robes have also all been patched. I fear this is to be implemented in earnest."

Thinking it over carefully, their Emperor really was the sort of person who would do such a thing.

During the time of Emperor Cheng of Han, the five Wang marquises lived in extravagance, were corrupt and venal, and spent their days indulging in carriages, horses, music, and women, making the court foul and chaotic.

The sole exception in the family was Wang Mang, an eccentric. From a young age, he humbled himself and practiced frugality and reverence, was filial to his mother, cared for his sister-in-law and nephews, devoted himself single-mindedly to studying the Confucian classics, and associated with men of insight. After he was enfeoffed as a marquis and took office, he did not covet money, silk, land, or property. His salary and the carriages, horses, clothes, and furs bestowed upon him were all used to support guests and righteous men, leaving nothing surplus in his household.

Later, when Wang Mang became Grand Marshal and Grand General, his mother once fell ill. The ministers and marquises sent their wives to the Wang household to convey their regards. Wang Mang's wife, who is now the Empress, came out to receive them. She wore a short skirt, her clothes did not trail on the ground, and the cloth barely covered her knees. The ladies all thought she was a servant, and only when her identity was revealed were they astonished.

As for later, after he became Duke Who Pacifies the Han, Acting Emperor, and then true Emperor, whenever disaster struck the realm, Wang Mang would sigh and lament, leading the host of officials to eat only vegetarian meals — this was a common occurrence. Wang Yuan himself had been made to eat such meals twice, and upon returning home he would gorge on fish and meat to make up for it.

Now this push for the governance of Confucius's Zhongdu was nothing but the same old tune played again. Wang Yuan listened in a daze, but still felt it had nothing to do with him. He merely cursed, "Jimeng, you may follow this in Chang'an as you please, but you came to this banquet at my invitation, and there are no agents of the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties sent to watch you. Why put on such an act? Hurry up and change!"

"I cannot change."

Wei Ao flicked his robes and cap. "When I left the city, I happened to run into Tang Zun, the Supervisor of Waters (Commandant of the Waters and Forests). Tang Zun is most zealous about this matter. Whatever His Majesty says, he does. He wears short robes and narrow sleeves, rides in a firewood cart pulled by mares, sleeps on straw, uses earthenware at home, and when entertaining guests, he actually uses clay cooking pots."

"He asked where I was going, and I said I was coming to your home for the Double Ninth banquet. Tang Zun then solemnly enjoined me, saying that the governance of Confucius must not be confined to Chang'an but must be spread to the various commanderies. And as a Lesser Grand Master, I must set an example myself. When I arrive in Liewei Commandery, I must be as frugal as I am in Chang'an, so that the local powerful families and gentry will vie to emulate me."

After saying this, Wei Ao patted Wang Yuan and said, "Huimeng, you and the others will soon face such a day yourselves. These extravagant, ornate carriages — you won't be able to ride in them for many more days before you must hide them away. Wait until this gust of wind has blown over first. Liewei is too close to the capital; the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties has his eyes on it constantly."

Having said this, Wei Ao raised his head, resumed the dignity of a capital official, and repeated what he had just said to the crowd that had come out to greet him, only concealing his own dismissiveness toward the matter.

At the end, he asked, half-jokingly, "Marquis of Qiongcheng, among those attending the banquet at your home today, are there any who did not ride in a proper four-horse team?"

How would Wang Yuan know? He looked at his household steward. The steward was already dumbfounded and could only stammer in reply, "There are two."

And the crowd of guests promptly parted at just the right moment, revealing Jing Dan and Diwu Lun standing in the corner.

Fan Zhu, who had just been mocking the two men's simple carriage and horses, was now staring dumbstruck. He knew Jing Dan was a Literary Clerk, responsible for moral instruction in the commandery, and also a trusted aide of the Governor. Could it be that he had known of this matter in advance?

The others all thought the same. The gazes directed at Jing Dan held both envy and resentment.

The envy was because, with today's events, Jing Dan might be remembered by Wei Ao, this capital official, and his reputation might be passed up to the ears of the State Preceptor.

The resentment was the feeling that Jing Sunqing had failed them as a colleague by not telling them about this, yet quietly practicing it himself. What a fellow, stopping at nothing to gain fame, with such deep and scheming thoughts! Bah!

Jing Dan, however, was utterly bewildered. He merely turned his head to glance at Diwu Lun, astonished in his heart: "Before the Son of Heaven's edict was even issued, Boyu had already divided the men's and women's privies in Diwu Village — coinciding perfectly with the Emperor's intent."

"Now Chang'an is promoting a fashion of frugality, and has not yet required the commanderies and counties to emulate it. Even I, the Literary Clerk, knew nothing of this, yet Boyu has once again taken the lead, driving a shabby carriage with a feeble horse of his own accord. Surely this cannot be coincidence again?"

While others cast sidelong glances at Jing Dan, Jing Dan in turn eyed Diwu Lun beside him, thinking this young man was no simple character.

Wei Ao had meant it only as a jest to frighten the crowd, and had not expected there really would be any. Surprised, he could only laugh and say, "Excellent. All you gentlemen and grand masters, you must think of emulating them."

"We respectfully obey the Grand Master's words. We shall certainly emulate the worthy when we see them! Emulate the worthy when we see them!"

The crowd could only obediently assent, not daring to utter another word of mockery or contempt.

Wei Ao asked Wang Yuan to introduce the two men. Jing Dan immediately stepped forward to pay his respects. "Jing Dan, Literary Clerk of the commandery, pays his respects to Grand Master Wei."

"The Jing clan? Could your native place be in Shiwu Commandery?"

"It is indeed Shiting County."

Wei Ao smiled. "What relation is the Grand Preceptor, Xi Zhong Jing Shang, to you?"

"He is a clan elder brother of this humble official."

Wei Ao nodded, then looked at Diwu Lun. He thought this young man looked so very young. When he heard him announce his name, he immediately laughed. "Could this be that 'Pear-Yielding Boy'?"

"Oh? Jimeng actually knows of this minor local notable of our commandery?"

It was only then that Wang Yuan remembered he had indeed invited Diwu Lun to the banquet. Feeling deeply ashamed, he hurriedly pretended to be very familiar with him to cover his embarrassment. "His worthy reputation for twice declining and twice yielding has spread throughout the commandery. Has it now even reached Chang'an?"

Wei Ao did not know what "twice declining" referred to. He merely stroked his beard and said, "Some days ago, I was reporting on affairs before the State Preceptor. It happened that the State Preceptor's nephew, Lesser Grand Master Liu Gong, had returned from Liewei Commandery to the capital to report on his mission. He mentioned the matter of Diwu Lun withdrawing from the academy and yielding the pears. The State Preceptor thereupon praised him, saying…"

"'A youth of worthy conduct!'"

Hiss! At these words, from Wang Yuan to the assembled guests, everyone cast sidelong glances at Diwu Lun. Who was the State Preceptor? He was one of the Four Supports of the Xin dynasty, the Emperor's most intimate friend. Now Diwu Lun's reputation had truly reached the imperial court.

Unexpectedly, Diwu Lun showed no joy; instead, he felt somewhat anxious at heart.

Last month, when he yielded his place at the academy before Huan Tan and Liu Gong, he had not yet known the name of the State Preceptor.

But now things were different.

Some days earlier, when Di Si Xian had visited the hamlet again, Diwu Lun, thinking that this merchant who traveled through every commandery must have seen much and known many people, casually asked him about something.

"By the way, have you ever heard of a man called 'Liu Xiu'?"

"Which Xiu?"

The Xiu of "Dihua's Xiu," of course.

Diwu Lun wrote the character out for Di Si Xian to see. He had thought it unlikely to go so smoothly, but to his surprise, Di Si Xian gave him an answer at once.

"How could I not know?"

"Liu Xiu is the State Preceptor! The State Preceptor's name is Liu Xiu!"

Diwu Lun sprayed the broth from his mouth on the spot. Days had passed since, and even now he still had not fully recovered from the shock.

He did not know much history. All he could think was: didn't Liu Xiu overthrow the Xin Dynasty and found the Eastern Han? How had he become Wang Mang's close friend and the State Preceptor of the Xin Dynasty? Had he arrived in a parallel world? There had to be something fishy about this!

At this moment he could not spare any more thought for that matter. After Wei Ao said that State Preceptor Liu Xiu had spoken in praise of him, Diwu Lun had to respond — he could not just stand there dumbly.

He simply lowered his head, put on a look of overwhelmed flattery, and said:

"The State Preceptor… knows that one such as Diwu Lun exists in this world?"

…

PS: Was distracted following the US election yesterday, my mind wasn't on it, so it's a bit short.