Chapter 49: A Loving Father and a Filial Son

(The automatic post didn't go through, ugh)

"I see that Diwu Lun's reputation is undeserved — he lacks the judgment to recognize talent."

At noon, on the donkey ride back to the Imperial Academy, Deng Yu was venting his indignation on Liu Xiu's behalf.

But Liu Xiu just rode on ahead in silence without answering. Deng Yu gave his donkey a smack to catch up, drew alongside Liu Xiu, and continued: "Last night, after I went back and calmed down and thought it over, I broke out in a cold sweat. If we had actually followed Liu Long's foolish idea and gone straight to submit a petition at the palace gate, we would likely be in the Bearer of the Gilded Mace's prison by now."

"It was all thanks to Wenshu turning the tide, leading us to Shangguan Ward to seek help from the Duke of Merit and Reverence, Wang Zong, and thereby getting Diwu Lun cleared of the charges. By that reckoning, Wenshu is his true benefactor."

Deng Yu said, "And that Diba Jiao — he didn't even explain the full story clearly. When he spoke of Wenshu's contribution, he only mentioned the donkey..."

At the thought of this, Deng Yu was so furious he gave the donkey beneath him a lash of the whip, sending it bolting wildly down the road in pain, until it finally threw Deng Yu off and sent him sprawling face-first into the dirt.

It was Liu Xiu who helped him rein in the beast, then helped Deng Yu up and scolded him with a laugh: "Don't take it out on the donkey. Besides, there's no real credit to speak of here. I didn't do this to earn Diwu Lun's gratitude — what use is the appreciation of one Palace Gentleman? I did it because I admired his chivalrous spirit. When righteousness calls, one simply contributes what little one can."

Of course, the real reason was that he had been dragged into it and had no choice. And seeing everyone else heading straight for disaster, the prudent and steady Liu Xiu had no option but to step forward and guide them.

Once the matter was settled, he habitually hid his achievements and withdrew from the spotlight, just as he had in the Front Column commandery — let his elder brother take the limelight, let the crowd's praise all go to Bosheng. Liu Xiu saw himself as a chancellor, content to assist from behind Bosheng.

This also meant that in a crowd, Liu Xiu did not stand out at first glance. It was Liu Long instead who, with his forthright courage and bold speech, was the first to respond and raise the banner, earning Diwu Lun's deep gratitude. So Diwu Lun had spent most of his time talking with Liu Long, offering the others only a verbal thanks — after all, over a hundred people had come that morning; to speak with each one at length would take days.

Liu Xiu, however, did not mind much. He helped the foot-injured Deng Yu onto the black donkey and led it forward, turning his head to tease: "Compared to Diwu Lun, Zhonghua's understanding of me brings me far greater joy!"

After returning home, Diwu Lun bathed and changed clothes before having Diba Jiao recount the events of the previous day in detail.

Upon hearing it, he could not help but strike his wrist and exclaim: "Jizheng, why didn't you say so earlier? From the sound of it, Liu Jiao, Liu Wenshu, was the greatest contributor of all!"

He had been wondering how the Imperial Academy students had managed to succeed. Without a clever person to steer them, that bunch of hot-headed youths could have caused who knows how much trouble, and might well have, with the best of intentions, gotten him killed.

And at their first meeting, when Diwu Lun swept his eyes over the group, he had actually thought Liu Wenshu "utterly unremarkable," merely greeting him briefly and devoting most of his energy to talking with Liu Long. What a sin.

He had indeed been far too neglectful of Liu Wenshu — but then, who could blame him, when the man kept such a low profile.

Diwu Lun immediately summoned Diwu Fu and ordered him to inform the Fourth Clan at the market row north of the city: "From this day forward, of the coal briquettes delivered to those several dozen Imperial Academy students, Liu Wenshu's portion is to be doubled... matching Liu Long's."

The Imperial Academy students all came from well-off families; they might not think much of such a trifle, but favors and courtesies begin with small gestures. Diwu Lun was willing to forgo this month's profits entirely if it meant Warming Sun Charcoal could keep those students who had helped him comfortably warm.

After Diwu Lun's trip to the Office of the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties, his fame had not only spread throughout the Imperial Academy but was also heard in the eastern and western markets. As a result, his family's coal briquettes sold much more easily, with daily sales rising from a thousand jin to fifteen hundred jin.

Sure enough, in this age, reputation could be converted into money. Just think of the Yuan Clan's "Yuan Family Path" at Maoling — so grand it violated sumptuary laws — which cost the Yuans almost nothing out of pocket, most of it crowdfunded by their little fans and admirers.

But after only a day, Diwu Lun learned from his subordinates that an interesting change had occurred as his story spread through the market wards.

To describe it in the style of later chapter-novel headings: "Imperial Academy students raise a banner to plead for a life; the Duke of Merit and Reverence righteously rescues Boyu!"

In this version of the story, the most crucial figure, Colonel of the Central Ramparts Ma Yuan, was deliberately omitted. Instead, the Duke of Merit and Reverence, Wang Zong, was lavishly praised, portrayed as a figure akin to Lord Wuji of Wei.

"This time, I've run into a true expert at farming reputation."

Diwu Lun was absolutely certain — this was not like the time he had misunderstood Wan Xiu.

And as the story was spread by those with an agenda, in the eyes of many in Chang'an, the Duke of Merit and Reverence became Diwu Lun's savior and benefactor!

It was at this moment that the household steward who had accompanied the Imperial Academy students to the Office of the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties and delivered the letter to Kong Ren arrived at Xuanming Ward, smiling as he presented a visiting card.

"Palace Gentleman Diwu, His Imperial Grandson the Duke of Merit and Reverence has prepared a banquet and invites you to his residence for a talk!"

"By all reason and sentiment, I must go to Shangguan Ward at once to pay my respects to the Duke of Merit and Reverence."

In the story now circulating through the market wards of Chang'an, Wang Zong's role as Diwu Lun's "savior" was already cemented. To slight him now would be base ingratitude, earning universal contempt.

See, reputation is a double-edged sword — even as you use it, it can coerce you in turn.

But Yang Xiong appeared deeply anxious, recalling Huan Tan's warning.

Though Huan Junshan's words were harsh, his political instincts were extraordinarily sharp. In the time of Emperor Ai of the former dynasty, both the Fu clan and Grand Marshal Dong Xian had sought association with Huan Tan, yet Huan Tan managed to escape implication when they fell from power — proof that he was highly adept at avoiding calamity. His warning was not groundless.

Yang Xiong therefore bade Diwu Lun wait a moment; he wanted to explain Wang Zong's situation to him thoroughly.

After Yang Xiong had set aside his dignity and gone to the State Preceptor's residence, Diwu Lun now truly treated Yang Xiong as his teacher.

He paid his respects morning and evening, personally served his meals, and even warmed his wine for him, which delighted the long-lonely Yang Xiong. Now, sipping his wine, Yang Xiong said: "Boyu, do you know how many sons the Son of Heaven has by the Empress?"

"I've heard there are four."

The four sons born to Wang Mang and his Empress were Wang Yu, Wang Huo, Wang An, and Wang Lin. There was also a daughter by the Empress — the Princess of Huanghuang, who lived in the Ding'an Lodge across from Xuanming Ward. In early winter, Diwu Lun had occasionally seen wooden kites rising from within the palace grounds; he did not know if she was the one flying them, and it was a pity he did not know her name.

Yang Xiong said: "The Emperor's second son, Wang Huo, was ordered by the Emperor to take his own life for beating a slave to death."

At the time, Wang Mang had been driven from court by Emperor Ai of Han and was living in retirement in Xindu. This incident caused an enormous stir across the realm and brought him great renown for a time.

The problem of slaves was already severe in the Han dynasty. Though laws and ordinances forbade the harming of slaves, given the enforcement capacity in the dynasty's waning years, it was nearly impossible to police what went on inside other people's homes. When slaves brought accusations against their masters, the authorities would not accept the cases. Masters were utterly unrestrained, beating and killing slaves at will; some nobles even regressed to the practice of human sacrifice.

Against this backdrop, Wang Mang had actually sacrificed his own son for the sake of a slave — a righteous man who put principle before family. Praise for his justice poured in from all quarters. The officials who submitted petitions to redress Wang Mang's grievances numbered in the hundreds, and when the Worthies and Scholars of the commanderies and kingdoms were summoned to the capital, the very first thing they did was to knock at the palace gate and raise their voices for Wang Mang, hoping for his return to court.

Accumulating popular esteem was the first step in Wang Mang's path to accepting the abdication. Compared to Wang Mang's mastery of currying fame and cultivating reputation, the young Diwu was merely displaying his meager skill before an expert.

But what Yang Xiong chiefly wished to speak of today was Wang Mang's eldest son, Wang Yu.

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"During the reign of Emperor Ping of the former dynasty, the Emperor used the chaos caused by the Ding and Fu clans under Emperor Ai as a pretext to bar the Wei maternal relatives from court. Even the birth mother of Emperor Ping of Han was not permitted to enter the capital."

"Wang Yu, then in his twenties, believed this violated the bonds of human kinship and might one day bring the Emperor Ping's resentment down upon the Wang clan. He therefore began secretly communicating with the Wei clan of Zhongshan. And when his repeated remonstrations fell on deaf ears, he conspired with his maternal uncle and his tutor to splash the main gate of the Duke Who Pacifies the Han's residence with the blood of a black dog in the dead of night..."

What on earth? Splashing dog blood on the gate? Diwu Lun was stunned.

Yang Xiong explained that because Wang Mang was a devout believer in spirits and the supernatural, Wang Yu and his co-conspirators had hoped to frighten him with strange portents, presenting them as warnings from Heaven to force Wang Mang to yield.

Unfortunately, they were far too amateurish and were caught red-handed. Wang Yu's plot was exposed. In his towering rage, Wang Mang cast aside all father-son affection and ordered Wang Yu to drink poisoned wine and take his own life. Wang Yu's wife, being pregnant, was granted a few more days of life, but as soon as the child was born, she too was executed.

This tale of sparing the grandson but killing the daughter-in-law made Diwu Lun's teeth chatter with cold. Combined with Wang Mang having slain two sons with his own hands, the man was practically a kinslaying fiend!

When his power was obstructed, Wang Mang showed not a shred of Confucian benevolence — he was utterly ruthless.

Diwu Lun could not help but recall an essay he had studied at the Palace Gentlemen's office, titled "The Eight Precepts."

It was said that after the Wang Yu incident, Wang Mang composed eight essays to admonish his descendants, which were promulgated throughout the realm and honored as equal to the Classic of Filial Piety.

Fine, what a fine example of a loving father and a filial son.

At present, Wang Mang had only two sons by the Empress left. The third, Wang An, the Lord of Xinjia, was afflicted with a foolish malady, so the fourth son, Wang Lin, had won by default and become the Crown Prince of the Xin Dynasty.

"Then this Duke of Merit and Reverence, Wang Zong — could he be Wang Yu's posthumous child?"

"No, he is Wang Yu's fourth son."

The fourth young master again.

Strange to say, though Wang Mang killed his eldest son with his own hand, he dotes on this grandson Wang Zong.

Even before the abdication and dynastic shift, he let Wang Zong inherit his title of "Marquis of Xindu." When Wang Mang's mother, the Lady of Manifest Merit, passed away, the assembled ministers knelt and begged him not to abandon the realm — so Wang Zong took his place in mourning, living beside the tomb mound for three full years.

These two events gave Wang Zong immense political standing. Add to that his courteous treatment of worthy scholars, and the rumour that Crown Prince Wang Lin had fallen somewhat from the Emperor's favour, and before long two factions had formed within the imperial house, quietly contending over the succession.

"The grandson is worthy of the grandfather."

After hearing Yang Xiong's account, Diwu Lun understood: Wang Zong had responded to the Imperial Academy students' plea and sent men to help him. Beyond simply aiding someone in urgent need, there was perhaps a political purpose.

Diwu Lun, measuring the matter with a petty man's heart, guessed that Wang Zong might be trying to imitate Wang Mang's path to power — calling forth fame and nurturing his reputation, then seizing the heir-apparency in one stroke. And Diwu Lun was practically a gift-wrapped prestige package delivered to his door.

Yet Diwu Lun still had to go. Yang Xiong merely saw him out, took his disciple by the hand, and said in a low voice, "Boyu, let me pick two lines from my old fu 'Mocking Ridicule' to send you off."

He looked at Diwu Lun and said with deep meaning, "A guest merely wants to paint my carriage hubs vermilion — not knowing one misstep will paint my whole clan crimson!"

…

Diwu Lun had read Yang Xiong's "Mocking Ridicule" some days ago. Its general content was Yang Xiong in dialogue, explaining why he would rather devote himself to dry scholarship like the Supreme Mystery than get too deeply entangled in politics.

And the meaning of these two lines is: "You keep saying you want to daub my carriage hubs with vermilion and bring me wealth and rank, yet you do not know that one stumble will dye my entire clan red with blood!"

The warning was unmistakable. Diwu Lun was deeply grateful for Yang Xiong's concern for him. The political situation at the end of Han and in the new Xin Dynasty was complex — backing the wrong side could well mean death and the extermination of one's clan. Caution was indeed essential.

"Well, let it be. The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge."

Diwu Lun now held the rank of "Junior Serviceman." To call upon the gate of Duke Chong's mansion, one had to bring a dried wild pheasant. He bought the gift at the market and followed Chang'an's main thoroughfare to Shangguan Ward, located in the south of the city.

Strange to say, though this was his first visit to Shangguan Ward in this life, the surrounding scenery felt vaguely familiar. Probably because Chang'an's one hundred and sixty neighbourhood wards all shared much the same layout.

And outside the ward gate, Diwu Lun spotted an acquaintance.

It was Diba Jiao, also cradling a dried pheasant, speaking with the ward gatekeeper.

"Jizheng, what brings you here too?"

Diba Jiao turned. When he saw Diwu Lun, he lifted his pheasant with a smile, bearing the self-conscious pride of a young man receiving serious regard for the first time in his life. "Duke Gongchong has summoned me to a banquet. He said Boyu would be here as well."

Remembering Diba Jiao's account of how, that day when the Imperial Academy students came to Shangguan Ward to seek Wang Zong's help, it was he who had laid out the circumstances, kowtowed, and made the plea — Diwu Lun understood at once.

"This Wang Zong has mistaken Diba Jiao for the opinion leader of the Imperial Academy! He means to net both of us brothers at a single banquet!"

…

PS: Recommending a new book, Rearer of the Ancient Gods.

A work by Sacred Wisdom Wolf, known in the jianghu by the nickname "Little White Wolf" — a veteran author.