Chapter 639: A Failed Act of Filial Piety

Gao Baoxu still hesitated. The moment he closed his eyes, he could not help recalling the affection his father Gao Conghui had always shown him.

Li Duan, Chief Commander of the Flying Tiger Fleet, urged him to place Gao Conghui under house arrest at once and seize power, then seek aid from Meng Shu and the Southern Tang — and Gao Baoxu was sorely tempted.

But when it came to actually launching a coup and placing his father Gao Conghui under house arrest, he could not make up his mind.

The reason Gao Baoxu had become the member of the Gao family least welcome to take power lay, at root, in Gao Conghui's excessive doting on him.

With Gao Conghui sickly all these years, Gao Baoxu had in fact already gained control of most of Nanping's strength; in this little Nanping army, more than six-tenths of the senior officers were of one mind with Gao Baoxu.

It had been so in history: after Gao Conghui died, his successor Gao Baorong was completely sidelined, and all affairs of the state, great and small, were decided by Gao Baoxu.

After Gao Baorong died, Gao Baoxu went on to rule Nanping for several more years.

But Zhang Zhao's meteoric rise cut short Gao Baoxu's dream.

If the Gao family now offered up Nanping's three prefectures to the court, then the court — and especially the Son of Heaven — would place its trust in his elder brother Gao Baorong.

The Gao family's future star of hope was the fourteenth brother, Gao Baoying, who had become brother-in-law to Luo Shande, Marquis of Yumen, and had entered the Secretariat to attend the Son of Heaven.

As for him, Gao Baoxu, there would be no benefit whatsoever — he might even be feared by the Son of Heaven for controlling Nanping's army, and the best outcome he could hope for would be to live under surveillance in the Eastern Capital.

Therefore, if Gao Baoxu did not want to lose everything, his only choice was to stop his father Gao Conghui from offering up the territory.

Crash!

The door was violently flung open. Gao Baoxu looked up and saw his trusted guard — also his wife's elder brother — burst in.

"Young Lord Ten, bad news! That dog Zhang Shaodi has sold us out! Ma Chu's troops suddenly stormed out of the city to join the court."

Gao Baoxu shot to his feet, all the blood in his body seeming to rush to his head. He swayed, then lunged forward and seized his brother-in-law by the collar.

"Didn't you say Zhang Shaodi was absolutely reliable? Didn't you say Zhang Shaodi was the man who, back in Chu, urged Ma Xifan to set up Ma Xi'e as ruler of Ma Chu?"

His brother-in-law was shaken so violently by Gao Baoxu that he tumbled straight to the floor, and with a mournful face he said:

"I spoke true! Zhang Shaodi did indeed strongly advocate setting up Ma Xi'e back then. This time he was the one who came to me, saying he wished to cooperate with me so he could return to Ma Chu."

By now there was nothing Gao Baoxu could do, for Zhang Shaodi knew his entire plan. The moment he told the Son of Heaven, Gao Baoxu would be doomed beyond doubt — and the Gao family itself would be in serious trouble.

"Quick! Muster the warriors of the mansion, and send men to notify Li Duan and the others to bring out the Flying Tiger Army at once."

Gao Baoxu gazed toward the distant Palace of the Prince of Jing. Father, your son is still filial. All this is for the Gao family. If only you are willing to abdicate, nothing will happen.

But this Gao Baoxu, who believed he was acting for the Gao family, had not even begun to move before Gao Conghui already knew every action of this filial son.

Old ginger is hotter still. Gao Conghui had governed Nanping for twenty years and run this little state with vigor and skill — how could a raw novice like Gao Baoxu compare?

This great filial son had just reached the gate of the Palace of the Prince of Jing with a hundred-odd warriors when he saw the palace already under martial law.

The Yiyong Capital armored guards, men who had followed the Gao family since Gao Jixing still went by the name Gao Jichang, were already armored, spears in hand, ready to defend.

Seeing this, Gao Baoxu did not dare attack, and simply turned and left.

Halfway back, he ran straight into Li Duan, Chief Commander of the fleet. Gao Baoxu looked him over carefully — Li Duan had only a hundred-odd men behind him.

Before Gao Baoxu could ask, Li Duan said with great embarrassment, "The Song and Liang families suddenly struck. That dog Wei Lin went back on his word. They got into the camp first and have taken control of most of the troops."

Gao Baoxu nearly fainted. When they had urged him to act, every one of them had boasted to the heavens — yet the moment they moved, one after another, they collapsed as if competing to see who could fail fastest.

This Li Duan had commanded the Flying Tiger Fleet for five years, yet he had let men walk into his camp and take control of most of his soldiers.

Wonderful! From the moment Gao Baoxu had set his sights on succeeding to the rule of Nanping, he had been scheming — and now, after all that scheming, only these two or three hundred men around him remained. For a moment Gao Baoxu had no idea what to do.

"Young Lord Ten, my wife's younger brother is in the camp, and he has a hundred or so capable men under him. The best course now is to seize the warships and sail downriver to Ezhou in the Southern Tang."

His brother-in-law, who rarely volunteered an opinion, suddenly spoke up. But Gao Baoxu was bewildered — with no way out now, what was the point of going to the Southern Tang?

If Jiangling were still in hand, going to the Southern Tang to beg for troops might have been worth trying. But now that Jiangling was lost, what use could the Southern Tang be?

Facing Gao Baoxu's doubts, his brother-in-law said loudly, "He Jingzhu, Military Governor of the Wuchang Army at Ezhou in the Southern Tang, has always been bold and resolute. He resents his Tang sovereign's submission, and has long wanted to use the fleet's advantage to strike hard at the Zhou army. If we go to Ezhou, we will surely be treated as honored guests.

The people of Nanping have enjoyed the Gao family's favor for decades — how could there be no loyal and righteous men among them? If we establish a foothold in Ezhou, then when the Zhou army returns north, we can borrow the Tang state's strength to fight our way back."

"Right! Right! Young Lord Ten, I can still call up several large ships. If the Tang state does not want the Zhou to sail downriver and destroy them, they will certainly have use for us." Li Duan's eyes lit up, and he too began urging Gao Baoxu.

And so this great filial son, wearing a leather cuirass and carrying a hengdao saber, was swept along in a daze toward the river and the water fortress.

Li Duan may have been thinking that he too would have a chance to be employed again in the Southern Tang — after all, Commander Li's head for politics was none too clear, but his ability to command in battle was quite good.

Years before, when An Congjin rebelled at Xiangyang, his Shannan East Circuit fleet had been so battered by the Nanping fleet under Li Duan's command that it dared only cower behind its walls.

As for Gao Baoxu's brother-in-law, who had suddenly turned so fervent — who knew what he was thinking?

Gao Conghui stood atop the gate tower of the Palace of the Prince of Jing, watching Gao Baoxu and the others recede into the distance. His lips moved slightly, and he was about to give the order when Gao Baorong suddenly dropped to his knees beside him.

"Father, let Tenth Brother go. If he does not leave, he is certain to die."

Hearing Gao Baorong's words, Gao Conghui's raised hand slowly lowered. He gazed into the distance and sighed faintly several times.

"I always thought Tenth Brother was clever. Now I see it was all petty cleverness!

Zhang Shaodi is the pillar of Chu — how could a newborn calf like him hope to recruit such a man?

To stage a palace coup, yet not think to win over the Yiyong Capital guards. Li Duan may be fierce, but once the fleet comes ashore, how can it defeat several hundred armored men?"

With that, Gao Conghui turned with a bitter smile to Gao Baorong. "Seal the treasuries, open the city gates, prepare the household registers and maps. You and I will change into ceremonial robes and lead the hundred officials to welcome the court's army into the city."

Gao Conghui was right. In the Ma Chu of today, the only man worthy of being called a great talent was Zhang Shaodi alone. He was the son of Zhang Ji, a key figure in the founding of Ma Chu.

When Ma Yin founded Chu, there was a saying: "The Dragon Prancer led the van; the Marshal pushed the cart." The Dragon Prancer was Liu Jianfeng, and the Marshal was Zhang Ji.

Originally Liu Jianfeng, Zhang Ji, and Ma Yin had all served Sun Ru. After Sun Ru's defeat and death, the three fled to Hunan, with Liu Jianfeng as leader, Zhang Ji second, and Ma Yin last.

Later Liu Jianfeng grew dissolute, and was killed by officers under his command. The men jointly urged Zhang Ji to succeed him, but on his way to assume command Zhang Ji fell from his horse and was left unable to move.

Zhang Ji took this as a warning from Heaven — though it is just as likely he sensed danger. This was the Five Dynasties, after all: to be wounded and unable to walk at such a critical moment meant he could never keep Ma Yin in check.

So Zhang Ji simply yielded the position to Ma Yin. Ma Yin was generous and able to use men; after taking power he swiftly pacified Hunan, and he always treated Zhang Ji with great respect. The state of Chu also often used the harmony among the three to extol Ma Yin's accession as Heaven's mandate.

Zhang Ji himself was one of the rare scholar-generals of the Five Dynasties who had passed the Classics examination, and so he educated his children extremely well. Zhang Shaodi was accomplished in both letters and arms and possessed keen judgment — a rare minister of Ma Chu versed in both civil and military affairs.

In former days, when Ma Xifan lay critically ill, Zhang Shaodi had strongly urged him to set up Ma Xi'e as his successor.

He held that Ma Xi'e, being in Langzhou, had already won the hearts of the Wuping Army of Langzhou and the Xi-Dong Man tribes. If Ma Xiguang were set up instead, Chu would surely fall into chaos — and since Ma Xiguang had not returned from the Central Plains, it would also give the Central Plains court a pretext.

But Li Honggao and the other Eighteen Scholars of the Tiance Bureau would not agree. They held that Ma Xi'e was the son of an old maidservant — of common birth — and could not compare with Ma Xiguang, who was of the principal wife's line, and so must never be set up.

Zhang Shaodi knew he could not prevail over Li Honggao and the rest, so he proposed that if Ma Xiguang was to be set up, they should use Ma Xifan's grave illness as a pretext to lure Ma Xi'e to Tanzhou, place him under house arrest, or even put him to death.

Li Honggao and the others began to hesitate again. They felt that a matter as grave as killing Ma Xi'e should be decided by Ma Xiguang himself after he returned.

When Zhang Shaodi heard this, he immediately shut his doors and refused to go out, saying only that great chaos was about to descend upon the Chu state.

In the end, it happened exactly as Zhang Shaodi had predicted. Ma Xi'e raised troops directly in Langzhou and, taking advantage of the moment when Tanzhou had no master, attacked and broke in.

Zhang Shaodi had originally intended to go over to Ma Xi'e, but to his dismay he saw that Ma Xi'e could not even control his own soldiers, and Tanzhou quickly sank into blood and fire.

So he contacted yabing officers such as Li Yanwen and Liu Yantao, and with several hundred men fled under cover of night.

As for Gao Baoxu's attempts to win him over — ha! How could a man like Zhang Shaodi possibly board Gao Baoxu's boat?

Given the situation in Nanping now, never mind a green youngster like Gao Baoxu — even if Gao Jixing, the founder of Nanping, were still alive, it could not be saved.

As for Ma Chu, Zhang Shaodi also knew full well that it was certainly finished. Even Ma Xiguang could never again govern Tanzhou.

The reason he was heading north this time was to throw in his lot with the imperial court and preserve the wealth and rank of the Zhang family.

As for proactively contacting Gao Baoxu, Zhang Shaodi was purely using him as a door-knocking brick.

And so Zhang Shaodi and his group suddenly slipped out of the small walled town north of Jiangling city where they had been kept under surveillance in Nanping. The moment they met Ma Zhaoyuan, they immediately sold out Gao Baoxu.

Ma Zhaoyuan flew into a rage. While sending a fast rider to carry word to Yin Zhengqi, who was a little over twenty li from Jiangling city, he prepared to attack.

But not long after the messenger set out, the gates of Jiangling city opened of their own accord. Gao Conghui, dragging his sick body along, came with his sons Gao Baorong, Gao Baoyin, and Gao Baoshen to surrender to Ma Yaozi.

Jiangling, which the Gao family had controlled for forty years, and Nanping, a state founded twenty-four years earlier, reached the end that history had appointed for it.

When Gao Conghui came to surrender, Zhang Zhao had only just reached Xiangyang Prefecture.

Upon receiving the news, Zhang Zhao personally led five hundred mounted and foot soldiers of the Hanshan Capital Guard, escorted by Zhang Zhaojiu (Dunzhu), Zhang Zhaozhong (Manxiong), and Zhang Zhaojie (Qiong Reduojin), traveling day and night south along the Han River until they reached Jiangling city.

Inside Jiangling city, Yin Zhengqi, the Yin Yaozi, had already sealed off the Nanping treasury. All Nanping officers of the rank of Chief Military Inspector and above had been placed under guard in the Jiangling prefectural office.

The members of the Gao clan had been moved out of the King of Jing's palace and resettled. In the vast royal palace, only Gao Conghui and his son Gao Baorong remained.

Zhang Zhao rode without pause to the King of Jing's palace, where he saw Gao Baorong kneeling prostrate on the ground, with a folding bed placed beside him.

On the folding bed lay a gaunt, withered old man who looked gravely ill, half-reclining — it was none other than Gao Conghui.

Zhang Zhao put on an expression of great shock. "In the spring, the Imperial Medical Office reported that the King of Jing's illness had greatly improved. I never imagined it had grown this severe."

As he spoke, Zhang Zhao turned a somewhat reproachful gaze on Gao Baorong. "With the King of Jing so gravely ill, he ought to be resting in a quiet chamber. Even if he had to come, how could you bring him here on a mere folding bed?"

Gao Baorong raised his head, looked at Zhang Zhao, and answered: "The imperial carriage is the property of the Son of Heaven. How would a subject dare to use it recklessly? When the Sage Son of Heaven arrives, how would the Gao family dare to await him in a quiet chamber?"

"Dechang, you are truly muddled. The Gao family has offered up their land as a model for all under heaven — what need is there for such timidity?"

Having said this, Zhang Zhao walked over, clasped the hand of Gao Conghui on the sickbed, and then called to those around him: "Grant the King of Jing the use of an imperial carriage within the palace. Quickly, go and bring one."

Gao Conghui had been gravely ill all along. Now, stimulated by the twin shocks of surrendering the three prefectures and the flight of his tenth son Gao Baoxu, he had suffered something akin to a stroke.

He looked at Zhang Zhao, his mouth making hoarse sounds, unable to speak, but his eyes were full of desperate hope.

Zhang Zhao had promised Gao Conghui that he could remain in Jiangling. Although Gao Conghui was already in this state, he still hoped Zhang Zhao would keep his word and not let Nanping come to an end in his hands.

The moment Zhang Zhao saw that Gao Conghui had suffered a stroke, his heart was immediately set at ease. A stroke this severe meant he did not have many days left. Even if he did not die, he could no longer control the situation.

So Zhang Zhao issued an edict right before Gao Conghui's folding bed: "The King of Jing, Gao Conghui, has rendered great service by offering up his land. Let his fief be increased by three thousand households, with an actual fief of one hundred households in Yicheng. Let him be granted the title of Grand Tutor, be given three sets of princely robes, and remain in Jiangling city to provisionally oversee governance."

Gao Conghui on the sickbed heard Zhang Zhao's words, and tears of gratitude streamed down his face. He glanced sidelong at Gao Baorong beside him, and Gao Baorong immediately knelt and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows toward Zhang Zhao.

"Your subject Gao Baorong, on behalf of his father, kowtows in thanks for Your Majesty's sacred grace!"

Zhang Zhao nodded and immediately had Gao Conghui carried into the inner palace. Gao Baorong was brought to Zhang Zhao's side, and Gao Conghui's fourth son, Gao Baoshen, was ordered to attend to Gao Conghui.

Zhang Zhao took Gao Baorong by the hand and walked toward the Guangde Hall, the main hall of the King of Jing's palace.

"In Dechang's opinion, among the officers of Nanping's naval and land forces, who can be entrusted with great matters?"

Keeping Gao Conghui was one thing, and the Nanping state title could be left alone for the time being, but all the various powers in Nanping absolutely had to be firmly grasped.

Gao Baorong hurriedly said to Zhang Zhao: "Who may be employed is for the Sage to decide; it is not for a subject to interject. I beg to lead the Gao clan members to the Eastern Capital to settle."

Zhang Zhao waved his hands repeatedly. "I have long known Dechang's character. Now that you have offered up your land, I will not harbor suspicions against you.

I have heard that your younger brother Gao Baoxu has fled to Ezhou. I fear he may bring the Southern Tang navy. I must ask Dechang to quickly recommend a good general to secure Jiangling."

Gao Baorong then said: "My younger brother's crime deserves death ten thousand times over. The King of Jing has already expelled him from the Gao clan. I am guilty of failing to detect this, and beg the Sage to punish me.

Among the Jiangling naval forces, Commander Wei Lin possesses both virtue and talent, is brave and strong, and rendered great service in this defeat of the rebel officer Li Duan and the others. I believe he can be entrusted with important duties."

Zhang Zhao actually knew better than Gao Baorong that Gao Baoxu was going to flee to the Southern Tang, because Gao Baoxu's eldest brother-in-law had long since been bought off by the Brocade Guard.

This hot potato was one Zhang Zhao had deliberately tossed to Li Jing and to He Jingzhu, the Military Governor of the Southern Tang's Wuchang Army in Ezhou.

At the moment he said with complete indifference: "Gao Baoxu's wolfish ambition has been long in the making. That Dechang failed to detect it is only natural. Summon Wei Lin to Guangde Hall at once."

In Guangde Hall, Wei Lin was quickly summoned. The man turned out to be only in his twenties, his dark skin gleaming with a sheen — at a glance, one could tell he was a white-striped wave-rider, constantly in and out of the water.

"Why did you not flee to the Southern Tang with Gao Baoxu and the others?" Zhang Zhao first asked coldly, and the atmosphere instantly turned icy.

Wei Lin was not flustered in the least. He clasped his hands and said to Zhang Zhao:

"I eat the Gao family's salary. If the Gao family wished to fight, I would fight to the death.

Now that the Gao family wishes to offer up their land, I should lead troops to protect the safety of the Gao household, high and low, and await the arrival of the Sage Son of Heaven."

"Ha ha ha!" Zhang Zhao clapped his hands in delight. "A loyal minister and a fine general indeed — no wonder Dechang recommended you so strongly. Today, are you willing to eat the imperial court's salary?"

"Since the Gao family has submitted to the court, I naturally am willing to submit to the court as well!" Wei Lin knelt on the ground and answered in a loud voice.

Zhang Zhao was overjoyed and continued: "You are willing to submit — but I wonder whether the seven thousand stout men of the Flying Tiger Army are willing to submit as well?"

Wei Lin answered loudly: "I have heard that the court has few naval forces. The Flying Tiger Army of Nanping are flying tigers upon the river. If they can become imperial guards, the entire army will surely rejoice, and all will be willing to give their lives for Your Majesty."

Zhang Zhao immediately felt this was a very good plan. He was short of naval forces right now. Nanping's Flying Tiger Army had defended Jiangling, a place contested on four sides, and had successively defeated Ma Chu, the Southern Tang, and An Congjin, who had rebelled at Xiangyang in years past. Their fighting strength was quite good, and taking them in as imperial guards was well worth it.

Zhang Zhao immediately issued the order: the entire Flying Tiger Army would be transferred from the Nanping navy to become imperial guards of the court, to be called the Flying Tiger Garrison of the Navy.

He appointed his adopted son Zhao Yanjin as Commander-in-Chief of the Flying Tiger Garrison, and Wei Lin as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Flying Tiger Garrison, sending Wei Lin to carry out the takeover together with Zhao Yanjin.

Having settled the most important matter — the navy, which Zhang Zhao considered the most valuable thing in the Nanping state worth taking in — Zhang Zhao's heart was at ease. He looked around and only then noticed that an important figure was missing: Sun Guangxian, the man who had spurred Gao Conghui to make up his mind to offer up his land.

Zhang Zhao immediately looked at Lu Yan, only to find Lu Yan smiling wryly.

"Sage, Sun Mengwen says he received great kindness from the Gao family, and then urged the Gao family to abolish their own ancestral temple. He truly cannot bear to show his face, and is shut up at home refusing to go out."

Zhang Zhao was taken aback. Was Sun Guangxian really that loyal?

He couldn't resist stroking the few strands of beard on his chin, then said to Lu Yan, "Then let Wenbing make the trip and go persuade Sun Guangxian."

Lu Yan clasped his hands with a solemn expression. "Sun Mengwen is a weighty minister of Nanping, who has held control of Nanping's government affairs for fifteen years. He is known for his virtue and has rendered great service to the court.

For a talent such as this, I beg Your Majesty to send a prince of the imperial clan to invite him, so as to display Your Majesty's magnanimity in embracing all rivers."

Zhang Zhao understood — Lu Yan wanted him to make a grand, public show of honoring worthy men!

Jiangling had only just been pacified. Although the Zhou army was strictly disciplined and had committed no rape or plunder, the common people were still very frightened.

If he could now stage a crowd-pleasing spectacle in the city of Jiangling — the Emperor honoring the worthy and thirsting for talent — it would immediately send a reassuring signal to the people of Jiangling.

"Sage! Your son wishes to go invite Master Sun!" A miniature Zhang Zhao in full armor immediately jumped out.

On this campaign, Zhang Zhao had brought along his eldest son, Zhang Xiancun, who was about to turn fifteen.

One reason was to broaden the boy's horizons. The other was that the lad had lately been carrying on in a sickeningly sweet way with the daughter of Hua Jianxiu — Princess Yong'an, the youngest daughter of Tang Mingzong Li Siyuan.

Zhang Zhao had no intention of acquiring a grandchild at this point, so he had brought Zhang Xiancun along.

"Rare of my son to volunteer. Then change into court robes, and let your sworn uncle Jiye escort you with a hundred armored soldiers. You know how to conduct yourself?"

Zhang Xiancun clasped his hands. "Your son knows. I shall set out from the Jing Prince's palace with full regalia, make a circuit of the city to the Sun residence, and then plead loudly before its gates."

The boy was rather clever!

And Zhang Zhao reflected that among those close to him now, people like Dunzhu and Manxiong certainly couldn't manage this.

Among his adopted sons, only Zhao Yanjin and Yang Jiye were present, and both were military men — not quite suitable either. It seemed only Zhang Xiancun was the right fit.

Lu Yan also heartily approved. "The Marquis of Shanshan is learned, courteous, and exceptionally intelligent — precisely the most suitable candidate."

By the rules of the Zhang Zhou dynasty, princes received no titles before the age of fourteen, and no rank of commandery duke or above before sixteen.

Zhang Xiancun's title of Marquis of Shanshan had only been granted last year, and he was still the only prince with a title.

Once Zhang Zhao agreed, Zhang Xiancun immediately changed into a prince's court robes. Although his rank was only marquis, the princes of Zhang Zhou were all permitted to wear the court robes reserved for imperial princes.

After Zhang Xiancun left, Zhang Zhao continued receiving the senior Nanping generals, Liu Fu, Li Jingwei, and others.

These men would be used if usable; if not, they were to be taken into custody at once. At the same time, men were to be dispatched immediately, guided by ministers of the Gao clan, to Xiazhou (Yichang) and Guizhou (Zigui).

The city of Jiangling alone was not the whole of Nanping. Xiazhou and Guizhou had to be taken, lest the Later Shu seize the advantage.

All chapters cached for you — download the APP to view.