Chapter 486: Libationer

Orioles were calling outside; the willow in the courtyard of the Commandery Administrator's guesthouse had already put forth tender buds — spring had arrived.

Xiao He rose at dawn as usual, only to find that Cao Shen and Liu Ji, who lodged in the neighboring rooms, had both vanished without a trace…

Two days since arriving in Jimo, and Xiao He felt a touch of awkwardness.

Cao Shen had been transferred to Jiaodong as an official by Heifu through proper procedure, and had now been appointed 'Deputy Clerk of the Bandit Section,' rank two hundred bushels — the right-hand man of the Bandit Section Chief, specifically in charge of banditry and public order. Already he had cheerfully donned his new official robes, hung his half-seal at his waist, and gone off to take up his post.

As for Liu Ji, he had come to confess his guilt to Heifu only because his life was at stake and he had no other choice. Heifu, for his part, had displayed his 'magnanimity,' not seizing on the past affair, and had grandly spared Liu Ji's life.

But the strange thing was, that day after Xiao He and Cao Shen had been sent inside, Heifu had kept Liu Ji alone in the courtyard. Afterwards, Liu Ji's face was pale, his forehead drenched in cold sweat. From then on, whenever Heifu was mentioned, he became cautious and circumspect, not daring to show the slightest insolence, and would often jerk his head around to peer outside the room, turning paranoid and jittery — utterly unlike his usual self, as though something had terrified him.

Heifu had no intention of letting Liu Ji off just yet either; instead he had Liu Ji stay for the time being as a retainer of the Commandery Administrator, wined and dined him every day, and took him along on inspections of the Jimo granaries and armories…

Xiao He could not quite figure it out: "Old Master Lü also said that this Liu Ji is audacious beyond measure — neither law nor threats can frighten him. With catastrophe bearing down, he could still fix his mind on consummating the marriage and bedding the bride before fleeing. What exactly did the Jiaodong Commandery Administrator say to him that day?"

Unable to puzzle it out, Xiao He took a turn around the courtyard and found that everyone was bustling about, while he alone was utterly idle.

A cautious man by nature, he had not rashly tendered his resignation in Pei County but had instead requested a month's leave. On the surface, he was accompanying Liu Ji to make amends and, incidentally, to thank Heifu for 'the grace of his patronage.' But now that the business was done, Heifu would not let him leave, merely asking Xiao He to stay a few more days and having Chen Ping show him around the city and its outskirts, while Heifu himself paid Xiao He no attention.

This was plainly a tactic of feigned indifference to draw him in, yet Xiao He still felt deeply uncomfortable. Matters having reached this stage, if he took the initiative to ask to stay in Jiaodong, he would appear shifty and irresolute; if he went back, then what was the point of making this trip?

The only graceful way out was for Heifu to invite him of his own accord…

Fortunately, Heifu did not leave him hanging for too long. At noon, after returning from inspecting the armory, he summoned Xiao He over, exchanged some pleasantries, and then placed a letter before Xiao He's desk.

Xiao He looked — it was a reply letter to Heifu from the Administrator and the Supervisory Censor of Sishui Commandery. The gist of the letter was that, if Xiao He was willing, he could be seconded to the office of the Jiaodong Commandery Administrator for a term of half a year.

Xiao He had long anticipated this, but he still asked, feigning ignorance: "Commandery Administrator Wei, what is the meaning of this?"

Heifu likewise decided to lay his cards on the table: "Sir Xiao's talent is renowned throughout Sishui. The reason you were unwilling to take up a post in Xianyang back then was perhaps that you felt the journey too far — once appointed, it would be three or five years with no knowing when you might return."

"But Jiaodong is different. At the fastest, it takes only half a month to return to Feng and Pei to look after one's family. Therefore, when I left Pei County, I took the liberty of sending a letter to Sishui Commandery, wishing to have you seconded to Jiaodong."

Heifu rose, feigning concern: "You have been here several days and have seen for yourself — though Jiaodong has been a commandery for some years, its governance has made little progress. Since I, the Commandery Administrator, arrived, everything must be started anew, and I urgently need capable clerks to assist me. Sir Xiao has also said, 'While one's parents are alive, one does not travel far,' but there is a second half to that saying: 'If one must travel, one must have a definite direction!' Since your family no longer opposes your serving as an official away from home, why not stay another half year and help me govern this region — what do you say?"

At this, Xiao He found it awkward to leave even if he wanted to.

To refuse again at this juncture would seem utterly ungrateful and leave both sides with no way to back down gracefully. Xiao He could only first put on a hesitant expression, then finally nod in assent, assume a demeanor of being deeply moved, and bow low, saying:

"The Commandery Administrator has repeatedly summoned Xiao He to service — He dare not decline again. I shall exert my meager strength to the utmost, assisting the Commandery Administrator in governing the commandery…"

At this point it was all about acting skill. Heifu stepped down from the dais and raised him up, laughing heartily: "With the aid of two outstanding men like Xiao and Cao, I need not worry about having no one to employ."

The brown-sugar shop Heifu had opened in Pei County — aside from Liu Ji, Xiao He was also a key target. Heifu knew Xiao He's résumé inside out: Xiao He had been a petty clerk in Fengyi under Chu. After Qin established Pei County, although Xiao He was already in his thirties, he had voluntarily requested to enroll as a disciple in the study chamber. In the study chamber, he fully displayed the prowess of a top scholar, quickly becoming fluent in the Guanzhong standard speech and mastering Qin seal script and Qin clerical script…

Afterwards, graduating first in his class from the study chamber, he took up a post as an assistant clerk and was selected by the Pei County Magistrate to serve as a 'Flawless Scribe.'

A 'Flawless Scribe' means one who can draft documents without error or blemish — equivalent to a county magistrate's secretary in later ages. All the leader's speech drafts, documents sent to the commandery and the imperial court — all were penned by Xiao He. Because the documents he produced were both plain in style and rigorously logical, he won the Pei Magistrate's deep favor, who promoted Xiao He to Chief Clerk, specifically in charge of government personnel matters. Every person Xiao He promoted was worthy; every one he dismissed was mediocre. All praised him, and for this he earned first place in Sishui Commandery's year-end evaluation.

Thus Heifu understood that, at present, Xiao He's greatest expertise and experience lay in documents and personnel.

The task he would assign Xiao He was also becoming obvious.

"I intend to appoint you as Libationer of the Commandery Academy! Rank two hundred bushels!"

…

"Libationer?"

Xiao He had spent many years within the Qin bureaucracy and was thoroughly familiar with all commandery and county posts, but the position of Libationer sounded exceedingly unfamiliar to his ears.

Casting his mind back, he recalled instead something he had once heard from men of Qi passing through Pei County — that at the Jixia Academy in Linzi there had been a Libationer responsible for managing the academy, and that Xunzi had thrice served as Libationer.

Now, years after Jixia's destruction, this very title had been revived by Heifu!

Heifu nodded: "You should also be aware that the very first thing I did upon arriving in Jimo was to issue a decree, desiring to promote legal education and reduce punishments. For this purpose, I established two study chambers, intending to recruit the sons of wealthy households and prominent families in the commandery to enroll, so as to beautify instruction and transform local customs. But I am busy with administrative affairs and cannot divide myself — therefore I wish to appoint someone to serve as Libationer of the public academy, with sole charge of legal education, selecting those who excel in the study chamber examinations to serve as clerks. This is the foremost task I must accomplish well in Jiaodong, and it must be undertaken by one thoroughly versed in the Odes, the Documents, and the statutes and ordinances, and who also has a discerning eye for talent. Apart from Sir Xiao, there truly is no suitable candidate."

Heifu had already submitted a proposal to the Censor's Office. Under Qin, at the township level there were the Three Elders in charge of moral instruction, but at the commandery and county level, educational affairs had no dedicated officer, being divided among the County Assistant and the various section heads.

Since he was determined to keep education firmly in his own hands, Heifu naturally had to wrest authority from the Commandery Assistant. He therefore proposed establishing, under the Commandery Administrator, the posts of 'Commandery Libationer' and 'County Libationer.'

The Libationer was equivalent to a director of education, or a headmaster. If it were a military academy, Heifu would certainly take the role himself, but since it only taught local assistant clerks, there was no such need.

This was the very first thing Heifu had resolved to do in Jiaodong, and it was also tied to the 'establishment of trust' he and Chen Ping had plotted together — therefore it had to be overseen by a person of rich talent.

Incidentally, while this matter appeared important, it carried little real power, and could also serve to test Xiao He's ability: Heifu would not casually judge a man based solely on historical reputation.

"The Commandery Administrator entrusts He with such a weighty task — how dare He not exert himself to the utmost…"

Xiao He's plan of propping up local bosses in Pei County to secure his own future had already collapsed, and he was compelled to remain in Jiaodong. The Heifu before him, though unfathomable, was nonetheless a powerful patron to cling to. He could only resignedly latch on. That being the case, he must let Heifu see his ability…

Thus, even before taking up his post as Libationer of the Jiaodong Public Academy, Xiao He raised an issue he had already noticed but which Heifu had overlooked.

Xiao He said: "My Lord Commandery wishes to exalt legal education and renew the customs of Jiaodong. Recruiting the sons of wealthy households to enroll is certainly important, but if another matter is not addressed at the same time, I fear the effort will yield only half the result… This matter is not conspicuous in the Qin heartlands or in Nan Commandery, but east of the Passes, and especially in the Qi region, it absolutely cannot be ignored!"

Heifu's interest was piqued: "Oh! What matter is that? I wish to hear the details."

Xiao He had spent several years navigating officialdom, and the public education in the Feng-Pei area was likewise a mess. Apart from people like him and Cao Shen who were willing to enter the system, the study chambers served little purpose. Tracing the root cause, there was only one…

In the past, these matters were not under his jurisdiction, so Xiao He had turned a blind eye. Now it was time to show some real skill.

Xiao He then said: "He has heard that when Lord Shang of Qin wished to promote public warfare, he first prohibited private feuds. Now that the Commandery Administrator wishes to promote public academies and legal education, he must first prohibit private academies!"

…

PS: Going to eat, two more chapters tonight.

(End of chapter)