Chapter 296: Dancing on Eggs

A half-year-old child is at the most delightful stage. Diwu Ming crawled barefoot across the mat, his eyes darting everywhere, eager to grab anything within reach and stuff it into his mouth to gnaw on. Apart from his mother, he was closest to Ma Yuan — the elder often scooped him up to play — but with Diwu Lun, he simply could not warm up.

After all, ever since the boy was born, Diwu Lun had gone to Chang'an to "do great things" and had been away for nearly half a year. The moment he was in his father's arms, he wailed, leaving Diwu Lun, who had clearly been looking forward to the joys of family, feeling rather awkward.

Ma Chanchan took the child back, and the crying stopped at once.

"The more he sees his husband, the closer he'll naturally become."

But at his wife's words, Diwu Lun felt a pang of shame, because he was about to leave mother and child behind again and rush west at full speed.

"There is trouble in Guanzhong. I must travel day and night to get back. You and the child will likely have to stay for a time in Wude County in Henei."

A long, arduous journey, with the Taihang Mountains to cross, would be too harsh for a half-year-old nursing infant. And after thinking it over, Diwu Lun realized that with Liu Bosheng leading troops into Guanzhong, Weibei was in fact not safe at all.

He had only heard that Liu Xiu's elder brother was a fierce and valiant general, skilled in warfare, and held great prestige within the Gengshi regime. When he discovered that Weinan lacked enough grain to feed his army, would he ignore Diwu Lun's trap and instead make the most brutally simple yet correct choice regarding Weibei: attack!

He could not count on fooling everyone or winning them over with rare commodities. Compared to other places, Guanzhong was what demanded the most worry, and Diwu Lun had to go deal with it personally.

Before leaving, he also settled the ambiguous military and political arrangements in the east: State Commandant Ma Yuan was appointed Grand General of the Swift Cavalry, overseeing the troops of Henei, Wei, and Shouliang, and was to open a field headquarters at Wude, taking overall command of eastern military affairs.

The large population of Henei and Wei was a major advantage. The commandery and county troops had to be reorganized, so that the nearly ten thousand men under Ma Yuan could be freed from the deep pit of city defense and maintaining order, regain mobility, and be ready to respond to possible attacks from the Tongma and the Greenwood chieftains.

Civil administration and foreign affairs were entrusted entirely to the Left Chancellor Geng Chun to decide. Only his status, through his uncle-nephew relationship with Liu Yang, the King of Zhending in Northern Han, could maintain peace with Hebei.

But before he left, Diwu Lun still had a bit of excitement to watch, so he asked the Remonstrance Grandee Huang Chang:

"Have all three Han envoys taken up residence in the guesthouse?"

With Luoyang taken, the Gengshi Emperor Liu Xuan, far away in Nanyang, bowed to popular sentiment and, as expected, enfeoffed his meritorious officials as kings.

"Dingguo Shanggong Wang Kuang is made King of Biyang; Guard Commandant Grand General Zhang Ang is made King of Huaiyang; Water Balance Grand General Cheng Dan is made King of Xiangyi."

The Chamberlain for Law Enforcement Grand General Wang Chang received the title "King of Wuyang."

The Greenwood chieftains were overjoyed, transformed from bandits into feudal princes, their ambitions momentarily satisfied. Only Wang Chang's heart suddenly seized up when he learned of Liu Bosheng's title!

"Dingguo Shanggong, allow me to cross the river and win over Diwu Lun!"

Wang Chang believed that since the Greenwood Han regime accepted non-imperial-clan kings, the conditions were ripe. He immediately headed north, arriving in Henei as an envoy.

Henan was still in chaos — Diwu Lun's "envoy" Cai Mao was robbed and murdered the moment he disembarked. Hebei, however, was perfectly tranquil. Under the control of Ma Yuan's Wei veterans, peace reigned, and Wang Chang was received smoothly and without incident.

Yet Diwu Lun, on the pretext of touring the counties, had Wang Chang settled in a government hostel in Huai County. The hostel was very large, with three courtyards in total. Ma Yuan had troops stationed outside to guard it. Wang Chang and his dozen or so men lived in the south courtyard and were not permitted to go out freely. After two days, the Greenwood soldiers grew thoroughly impatient. Standing on the courtyard wall, they saw that the two neighboring courtyards were also occupied.

And then, from the hostel clerks, they "inadvertently" learned that the residents of the west and north courtyards were none other than Liu Gong, the envoy of Western Han, and Du Wei, the envoy of Northern Han!

"Is Diwu Lun trying to serve three husbands with one woman, selling his goods to three houses?"

Wang Chang was greatly alarmed, thinking Diwu Lun meant to tell them that he was being courted from many sides, and that the terms they offered would have to be carefully reconsidered.

But Wang Chang, after all, had roamed the Greenwood, living by the blade. Upon learning this, his malice surged into reckless courage. He gathered his followers and said: "Have you all heard the story of Fu Jiezi?"

"In the past, Fu Jiezi was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions. Hearing that Xiongnu envoys were in Kucha, he rebuked the King of Kucha, then led his officers and soldiers in a night raid on the Xiongnu mission, killed the Xiongnu envoys, and forced Kucha to submit to Han."

"The tale of Jiezi — we can reenact it today!"

Wang Chang drew his blade and declared: "Those who crossed the river with me are all fierce and valiant warriors. We shall fight our way out of this hostel, slay the envoys of Northern Han and Western Han, and force Diwu Lun to submit to His Majesty Gengshi!"

His men shouted their assent. But brave as Wang Chang was, he still underestimated Diwu Lun's arrangements; their every move was under surveillance. That night, just as Wang Chang and his men were sharpening their blades, poised to strike, they were shocked to learn that the envoys of the other two parties had already vanished, their courtyards empty. And Diwu Lun had returned to Huai County and demanded to see him at once!

As it turned out, Huang Chang had reported that the Greenwood envoy was preparing to use blades, which gave Diwu Lun a great fright. If Wang Chang really had cut down the other two envoys, though it would not change the overall situation, it would still cause Diwu Lun to lose face.

After Diwu Lun had the matter stopped just in time, he found himself rather more interested in Wang Chang. Meeting him today, he saw a man wearing a brown-feathered martial cap, looking like a steady, honest, and quiet person. How had he ended up in the mountains as a bandit, and harbored such enormous daring?

"Aside from the Liu Xiu brothers, there are also outstanding men among the Greenwood," Diwu Lun thought to himself. From behind the hall guards, he cupped his hands toward Wang Chang: "Touring the counties has made me late in returning — I have truly been remiss toward you, General!"

Wang Chang was neither servile nor overbearing. After saluting, he looked left and right: "Where are the envoys of Northern Han and Western Han? Does the great king not intend to have them come quarrel with me as well?"

To be honest, that had been Diwu Lun's original plan, but this Wang Chang was quite fierce. Liu Gong and Du Wei combined probably could not outfight him. As for the relations among the three Han regimes... since each had set up its own Han emperor, they were already mortal enemies. Unless a common threat to their survival appeared, there was no possibility of sitting down to negotiate for now. Diwu Lun did not even need to "sow discord."

"The great king raised a righteous army and drove out Wang Mang — this is a tremendous merit."

"I do not know what terms those others have offered the great king." Wang Chang's speech was somewhat rough, unlike that of a typical envoy.

"But the Gengshi Emperor has already recognized the title of King of Wei."

He continued: "Wang Chang, unworthy as I am, with my meager, inch-long labors, has also been enfeoffed as King of Wuyang, with a fief of eight counties. And for the King of Wei, His Majesty is willing to let you keep the eight commanderies you have seized!"

These were indeed exceedingly generous terms. Diwu Lun put on an expression of being tempted: "May I ask, General Wang, where are the Gengshi Emperor's edict and seal of office?"

"The edict is still on the road; an oral decree arrived first."

Wang Chang had, in fact, also learned from Hongnong that Liu Bosheng had already entered the pass. He was on very good terms with the Bosheng brothers and knew how wary Liu Xuan was of the two of them. This time, the aim was to make Liu Bosheng and Diwu Lun fight each other in Guanzhong. And he had to stop this. That was why, on the one hand, he had submitted a memorial to Gengshi requesting permission, and on the other, had hurried across the river, hoping to obtain Diwu Lun's promise so that both sides could avert armed conflict.

Yet Wang Chang, though no slouch at warfare or governing commanderies, was truly out of his depth as an envoy. At this moment, he was actually tongue-tied.

Diwu Lun saw through Wang Chang's lack of confidence. He clapped his hands and had an attendant present two large seals: "I won't hide it from you, General Wang. The Yuantong Emperor of Western Han and the Sixing Emperor of Northern Han have both already recognized my title of King of Wei, issued edicts, and on top of that, sent chancellor's seals. Is this sincerity not more substantial than that of the Gengshi Emperor?"

The current King of Wei was like the foremost goddess under heaven — too many suitors, and it was a headache for him too. Seeing Wang Chang growing more and more anxious, Diwu Lun shifted his tone: "But I have declined and dared not accept!"

"In the realm today, counting Lu Fang propped up by the Xiongnu, there are already four Han regimes standing side by side. Setting him aside, there are still three houses."

Diwu Lun stood, picked up the three boiled eggs from a plate, and held them in his hand: "Others say I am carefree as a king. Little do they know, I am dancing on three eggs — I cannot afford to break a single one!"

"The moment I accept one house's title and seal, I must break with the other two. To make the common people suffer the misery of war once more is absolutely not my wish. For now, I can only take protecting the borders and pacifying the people as my duty, sit back and wait for the realm to decide the true Son of Heaven, and then make my choice."

Wang Chang wanted to speak further, but Diwu Lun raised a hand to stop him: "Let us not speak of this matter today. General Yanqing, I have heard that you are on good terms with the brothers Liu Bosheng and Liu Wenshu. I was just about to ask after their recent circumstances."

Diwu Lun put on an air of being very familiar with the Liu brothers and said with a smile: "Since the Gengshi Emperor has greatly enfeoffed his meritorious officials, I wonder, have Liu Bosheng and Liu Wenshu been made kings? And what are their respective titles?"

This struck Wang Chang right in his vital spot. It was precisely because he had heard the royal title Gengshi gave Liu Bosheng and perceived its intent that his heart had grown anxious and he had hurried across the river to play the envoy.

"Bosheng is... King of Pingyi." Wang Chang knew this could not be hidden for long, and that Diwu Lun might already know. He could only state it plainly, but in doing so, his claim that the Gengshi Emperor had agreed to let Diwu Lun keep the commanderies under his jurisdiction instantly collapsed.

The room fell silent at once. Inside, Huang Chang and the others looked at one another and sneered coldly.

"Pingyi — isn't that exactly where the Wei capital, Yueyang, is located!"

The Gengshi Emperor Liu Xuan had truly made a fine calculation. The fief of Liu Bosheng, this "King of Pingyi," was precisely the twenty counties of Liewei and Shivei commanderies that Diwu Lun used as his base of operations! The intent was self-evident: to make Diwu Lun and Liu Bosheng fight each other!

But Diwu Lun did not fly into a great rage as Wang Chang had imagined. Instead, he silenced his indignant followers and said calmly: "Liu Bosheng is an outstanding man of the age. He was the first to raise troops against Xin at Chongling, arrayed his forces and swore an oath to his men, burned his stores, smashed his cauldrons and steamers, drummed his advance, fought at the Tang River, and then trapped my army at Wancheng... He made Wang Mang lose his appetite and offer a hundred thousand in gold for his head. For such a man, a two-character royal title is unworthy of him."

Diwu Lun's gaze shifted to Wang Chang, who was sitting on pins and needles, and he added: "And Liu Wenshu? What king is he?"

Then he went on, as if to himself: "Wenshu won the great victory at Kunyang. Together, he in the east and I in the west dealt the Xin dynasty a heavy blow. I have become King of Wei; Wenshu should also have received a commandery or two as his fief, no?"

Wang Chang was embarrassed again: "Wenshu was enfeoffed as a marquis and ordered to tour Liang and Song in the east... He has not yet been made a king."

The polite expression Diwu Lun had maintained all along collapsed in an instant, and he could only sigh: "So that's how it is."

He looked again at Wang Chang: "General Wang, in your own estimation, how do your achievements and those of the Greenwood princes compare to Wenshu's?"

Wang Chang had nearly knelt to Liu Xiu back during the battle of Kunyang, and now he was utterly ashamed: "Not even close."

Diwu Lun's words brimmed with indignation on Liu Xiu's behalf: "Liu Wenshu performed peerless deeds yet received no reward. Liu Bosheng's title was clearly meant to set him against me in Guanzhong. With rewards and punishments so muddled, and the realm not yet settled yet already ready to discard the hound once the hare is dead — General Wang, how can you ask me to trust the Gengshi Emperor's sincerity?"

His tone had turned deeply impolite: "No wonder I've heard it said: when Nanyang first raised troops to pursue the great cause, it was the Liu Bosheng brothers who led it. And what is the Gengshi Emperor now? I've heard that when the Emperor was first chosen, General Wang also stood on Liu Bosheng's side. I never imagined that Liu Xuan, that man of no account, would get his way…"

"Your Highness goes too far! When the lord is insulted, his vassal grieves — these words, I, a foreign minister, cannot bear to hear to the end!" Wang Chang rose in anger, about to shake his sleeves and leave, but Diwu Lun called out from behind and stopped him.

"General Yanqing, your crossing the river to come here this time is surely not for Gengshi's sake, but because you hope Liu Bosheng and I will not draw swords against each other, is it not? I do have an idea. If the General can agree to it, this matter can still be discussed."

Wang Chang turned around, and saw Diwu Lun speak with solemn gravity: "The General holds Hongnong, backed by Hedong to the north and facing Weinan to the west. Why not jointly honor Liu Bosheng as Emperor, and let him become the true Son of Heaven of the Han? What say you?"

……

PS: Tomorrow's update at 13:00.