Chapter 769

Hu Jinsi was now riding a tiger he could not dismount, but in truth the King of Wuyue, Qian Hongchu, was also being roasted over a fire.

The reason was simple: after the two reigns of Qian Zuo and Qian Hongzong, the tacit understanding that the Qian kings had reached with the meritorious officials of the Western Prefecture and the powerful families of the Eastern Prefecture in his father Qian Yuanguan's time had, one could say, been utterly destroyed.

Especially during Qian Zuo's reign — that teenage boy king, in order to pull power back from the hands of the officials of the Eastern and Western Prefectures, had killed quite a few people.

And not only after they had clearly committed some fault. If he disliked the look of someone, he would not even bother to fabricate a decent excuse, but would trump up something like "secretly harboring disloyal intentions" or "privately hoarding armor," and directly send his inner yabing guards to slaughter the man's entire family.

Good heavens — in any other dynasty, privately hoarding armor would indeed be a grave crime, but this was the Five Dynasties, damn it! Any man with a bit of martial strength, whose household did not have a few sets of armor?

This laughable excuse was as absurd as later generations accusing someone of keeping a kitchen cleaver at home and calling it "illegally possessing a controlled weapon."

At the same time, Qian Zuo's killing speed and cooldown were also extremely fast. He was king for only five or six years in all, and actually ruled in person for at most two years, yet the people he killed were spread throughout the powerful families of both the Eastern and Western Prefectures.

To put it somewhat dramatically, among the meritorious officials and powerful families of Wuyue's Eastern and Western Prefectures, more than seventy percent of households had clansmen or even close relatives who had died at Qian Zuo's hands.

If he had actually succeeded in what he set out to do, history would not have begrudged him the title of a wise ruler, but unfortunately, Qian Zuo botched it in the end.

The old fox Hu Jinsi had long been waiting for his moment. When everyone in Wuyue was living in fear, he raised his arm in a single rallying cry and smoothly had Qian Zuo killed, while publicly claiming he had died of illness.

So after such a reign of terror and slaughter, the whole of Wuyue was divided against itself. King Qian Hongchu did not dare trust those below him, and those below did not dare trust Qian Hongchu as their king.

Historically, the way out of this knot would only come three or four years later, when Qian Hongchu, first, followed the example of his grandfather Qian Liu and served the Central Plains with the rites of a subject, using the great righteousness of the Central Plains' Son of Heaven to suppress internal rivals so they would not dare do anything to him.

Second, he relied on reconciling with the aging Hu Jinsi and winning the hearts of those below him with gentle and lenient governance — only then was trust rebuilt.

But right now, Qian Hongchu's methods were not yet as sophisticated as they would be a few years later. The rift between him and Hu Jinsi was still extremely deep, and Qian Hongchu could even clearly sense an undercurrent.

This undercurrent was egging Hu Jinsi on. They hoped Hu Jinsi could launch a coup once more, kill the clear-headed-looking Qian Hongchu, and place on the throne Qian Hongchu's fourteenth younger brother, Qian Hongxin, who was only twelve years old this year.

Of course, Hu Jinsi was no fool. The reason he had taken several hundred armored soldiers of the Hu clan and left Hangzhou for Yuezhou was precisely that he too had sensed this dangerous undercurrent.

But even so, Qian Hongchu did not dare relax in the slightest.

Because although Hu Jinsi was an old fox, he was already ninety-two years old. Who knew whether he might suddenly go senile?

Or if Hu Jinsi were to die suddenly, would his son Hu Jing, holding the Hu clan's armored soldiers and the retainers of the Eastern Prefecture's powerful families, still be as cool-headed as Hu Jinsi?

All of this was full of variables.

Hangzhou, Qiantang Gate. Zhang Chengfu, wearing a silver-white python robe draped over his shoulders, led a vast envoy procession through Qiantang Gate into the city of Hangzhou.

In the Five Dynasties, Hangzhou was long from north to south and narrow from east to west, shaped somewhat like a waist drum, so it also had the common nickname "Waist Drum City."

A city like this, even protected by natural defenses such as West Lake, the Grand Canal, and the Tiesha River, was clearly unsuited to defense — a marked difference from the cities of the Central Plains, which gave priority to defensive capability.

Su the Fat later said that in the Five Dynasties, the common people of the Two Zhes lived to old age and died without ever knowing weapons of war, amusing themselves through the four seasons to the sound of song and drum.

Though somewhat exaggerated, the general situation really was not far from that.

Hangzhou's peculiar style — clearly favoring the convenience of water transport and giving little thought to city defenses — was clear proof of this state of affairs.

One imagines that in the chaotic Five Dynasties, when the common people of the Central Plains could not even obtain the lot of a dog in peacetime, the people of the Two Zhes in Wuyue lived as if in a golden age, going sixty or seventy years without knowing weapons of war, generally secure and prosperous — all thanks to three generations of Qian Liu, Qian Yuanguan, and Qian Hongchu.

That in later ages, down to the Republic era, the Qian clan could still produce so many descendants renowned throughout the world, was perhaps precisely the hidden virtue these three generations of Wuyue kings had stored up for their descendants.

Even Zhang Chengfu, the Duke of Nanyang Commandery, who had come as the imperial envoy, could not stop exclaiming in admiration upon seeing this scene of a golden age in Hangzhou.

At this time, even Zhang Zhou's eastern capital of Kaifeng and divine capital of Luoyang were still somewhat desolate, no match for Hangzhou, where even the common folk wore smiles that came from the heart.

This kind of overall satisfaction and spirit among the people could probably only be found in the western capital, Chengtian, at Liangzhou.

But Liangzhou's local character leaned more toward ruggedness mixed with sudden wealth, still no match for Hangzhou's elegance, like the ladies strolling by West Lake on a spring day.

Yet it was precisely amid this scene of a flourishing Jiangnan that Wuyue's greatest crisis was surging beneath the surface.

With Zhang Chengfu's arrival, countless pairs of eyes focused on this imperial envoy. Some in expectation, some with resistance, they welcomed the most exalted court envoy since Wuyue's founding.

Wuyue's palace — perhaps it should not be called a palace, for ever since Qian Liu built it, it had never been called a palace, but had always been referred to as the Wuyue King's City, or the King's Residence.

The King's Residence was located at the southern end of Hangzhou, below Phoenix Mountain, built against the slope. Its exact location was around the later Brahma Heaven Chan Temple in Hangzhou, and during the Southern Song it was slightly expanded to become the Southern Song imperial palace.

According to Zhang Zhou's system, Qian Hongchu was of the first princely rank, while the imperial envoy Zhang Chengfu was merely a commandery duke — a vast difference in status between the two.

But in fact, Qian Hongchu had at this point only received the court's assent that he would be enfeoffed as King of Yue; the ceremony had not even been held yet.

And Zhang Chengfu was a senior elder of the Zhang Zhou imperial clan, and of exalted standing, because under Zhang Zhao's arrangement, he had been adopted by his father Zhang Huaiqing into the line of the second Military Governor of the Guiyi Army, Zhang Huaishen, posthumously honored as Emperor Yingzu Huai.

That is to say, Zhang Chengfu was not only of Zhang Zhao's uncle's generation, but his nominal father was an emperor, and the Zhang family's most representative title, Duke of Nanyang Commandery, was inherited by him.

His adoption had been promised by Zhang Zhao in the presence of Cao Yijin and Zhang Yichao's youngest daughter, Madam Zhang née Li, as a symbol of the Zhang family's reconciliation, a benchmark of political correctness within the Zhang family, and his influence within the imperial clan even exceeded that of his biological father, Zhang Huaiqing.

With such a figure coming as imperial envoy, how could Qian Hongchu dare wait in the King's City? He had arrived early to wait five hundred paces inside Qiantang Gate.

Going out beyond Qiantang Gate to receive him was Qian Hongchu's elder brother, the Military Governor of Ningde Army and Marquis of Wuxing, Qian Hongzhan.

And when Qian Hongzhan went out to welcome him, one of the two Wuyue inner yabing guards who had followed Zhang Zhao beyond the frontier — Wang Sheng of Huzhou — also returned to Hangzhou together with them.

In front of everyone, Zhang Chengfu announced the court's rewards for Wang Sheng: brocade, refined sugar, fine horses, and spices, worth several hundred strings of cash.

Qian Hongzhan, acting on Qian Hongchu's orders, also promoted Wang Sheng on the spot to Left Commander of Horse and Foot of the Wuyue Inner yabing guards.

Add to this that by now, news of the Zhou Fengyi and Zhou Fengquan brothers of Yangzhou had also reached Hangzhou — this served as yet another "popular science lesson" for all the people of Wuyue on the glorious image of the Great Zhou Emperor, our Shao Ming Sage.

The King's Residence, the Welcoming Grace Hall.

After receiving Zhang Chengfu, Qian Hongchu immediately took Zhang Chengfu by the arm, and the two walked arm in arm.

The two rode together in Qian Hongchu's carriage, and his manner was as warm as a junior toward an elder.

Qian Hongchu cared not a whit for others' gazes. In his view, what he was holding onto was not Zhang Chengfu's arm — it was a life-saving straw!

Serving maids flitted about like butterflies, presenting freshly picked new tea and an endless stream of colorful Jiangnan pastries.

The revolution that our Sage Zhang had brought to tea seemed even greater than the restoration of Zhou rites he had undertaken.

Northerners, especially those of the northwest plus Qingtang and the grasslands, had been utterly captivated by his milk tea.

The south, meanwhile, had begun to fall in love with clear tea, and the old-style tea soup with salt, sheep fat, pepper, garlic, and aged tangerine peel was nearly extinct.

There were not many people in the Welcoming Grace Hall. Apart from King Qian Hongchu and the Marquis of Wuxing, Qian Hongzhan, all present were ministers of Wuyue's Eastern and Western Prefectures.

Hu Jinsi's full head of white hair stood out especially in the hall. He had just arrived, and had not even had time to wash off the dust of the road.

Qian Hongchu even put on a show of humility, offering Zhang Chengfu the seat of honor. This King of Wuyue was far cleverer than his two elder brothers — though not the equal of Qian Liu, he was no worse than his father Qian Yuanguan.

Zhang Chengfu naturally would not take that seat. He knew even better that Qian Hongchu was testing him.

If he sat down without hesitation, it would prove he was an arrogant fool lacking even the most basic political sense.

A fool like that could never serve as a backer — he was not even qualified to be a component of a backer. Qian Hongchu would surely pull back and not tell Zhang Chengfu a single word of truth.

Was Zhang Chengfu capable? At least before Zhang Zhao returned to Dunhuang, he was not.

Because back then, his family had merely been propped up by the Cao family to prove that the Caos were not seizing the Zhang family's foundation — that Zhang Chengfeng had truly botched things, and they had no choice but to step in and clean up the mess. That was their only role: a signboard.

Moreover, the Guiyi Army had only so many men. Even the Cao family's own sons could not all be rich and honored, so how could it ever be Zhang Chengfu's turn?

But after Zhang Zhao returned from the east, although the household of Zhang Huaiqing and Zhang Chengfu was still a symbol, a signboard, the pie had grown a hundred times larger, so they could at least share in a good deal of the benefits.

In addition, Zhang Zhao had no brothers and all his sons were still young, so he had frequent occasion to make use of the father and son, Zhang Huaiqing and Zhang Chengfu.

Therefore, in these years Zhang Chengfu had grown at a startling pace, which lent some validity to the saying that the times make the hero.

And on such an important occasion, Zhang Zhao could not possibly let Zhang Chengfu bear it alone.

To the left of this uncle-angel was a titan from Zhang Zhouli's ministry, a man who had once dared to grab the sleeve of the Gaochang Uyghur Khagan Xieli Pijia and refuse to let go, who had pointed at Li Jing's nose and cursed him in the Southern Tang court, and who was hailed as the Ban Dingyuan of the present age: the Vice Minister of Rites, Marquis of Xiaoyuan, Wang Jiu.

And to Zhang Chengfu's right was Zhao Jingangnu, who had just recently dazzled everyone on the Mobei battlefield.

This man came from the Zhao family of West Camp River in the Liugu tribe of Liangzhou, a family of meritorious officials from Liang and Lan. His ancestors had been the garrison commander of the Zhangye Garrison of the Great Tang in Liangzhou, making him the most red-rooted and proper-blooded existence even within the Liang-Lan Liugu faction.

Hu Jinsi raised his head and looked at the three angels, then shot a meaningful glance at a burly, stalwart man in the distance.

This man was He Chengxun, the Inner Army Troop Commander of Wuyue. He had originally been a trusted confidant of the previous king, Qian Hongzong, but had now already defected to Hu Jinsi.

When He Chengxun saw Hu Jinsi's look, he hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth. Afterward, he deliberately put on a contemptuous expression, and his sitting posture began to turn slouched and crooked.

At this moment, Zhang Chengfu and Qian Hongchu were engaged in question and answer. Qian Hongchu first expressed to Zhang Chengfu his loyalty to the Shao Ming Son of Heaven, and Zhang Chengfu in turn conveyed the Emperor's greetings to Qian Hongchu.

For He Chengxun to put on such an expression at this moment was naturally a provocation.

Zhao Jingangnu was kneeling upright on the right side, directly facing He Chengxun. As a youth of seventeen or eighteen, he was at the age when he most worshipped Zhang Zhao, and he could not tolerate anyone slighting the Emperor — not even with a single glance.

Just then, the ceremonial exchange between Qian Hongchu and Zhang Chengfu came to an end. Zhao Jingangnu immediately rose and clasped his fist toward Qian Hongchu.

"I have heard that Wuyue has many brave warriors, and that the Great King's inner yabing guards are matchless in valor. I am young, and my heart stirs at the sight of a worthy opponent. I wish to witness the heroic spirit of the Yue lands."

Having said this, without waiting for Qian Hongchu to answer, Zhao Jingangnu lightly tightened the futou on his head, then strode with measured steps toward He Chengxun.

At first Zhao Jingangnu had been seated, so He Chengxun had not seen his stature. Only now did he see that this sturdy youth, though still a bit callow, stood no less than six chi tall. His two eyes were like a pair of lanterns, his two fists like a pair of iron hammers, and with one long stride he was suddenly before him.

He Chengxun was badly startled and just began to stand when Zhao Jingangnu sank his waist, dropped into a horse stance, and drove a punch straight into his chest.

He Chengxun was caught off guard and took the hammer-like fist directly on the bridge of his nose.

That is the most pain-sensitive spot on the human face. Struck by the heavy blow, He Chengxun felt an extreme, searing pain surge through him. Tears immediately blurred his eyes, and nosebleed mixed with mucus burst forth violently.

Zhao Jingangnu landed the blow, then, while He Chengxun could not see clearly, seized the front of his clothes with both hands, lifted him directly overhead, and then hurled him violently to the ground.

To lift a sturdy man of one hundred fifty or sixty jin straight overhead is no easy feat. To call it heaven-given divine strength would not be an overstatement.

He Chengxun was thrown dizzy and dazed, his mind a clamor as of drums and music, and he lay on the ground groaning, blood coming from his mouth and nose.

The assembled Wuyue ministers were about to rise, and the armored soldiers of Wuyue outside the door also rushed in hurriedly to protect their Great King, Qian Hongchu.

Zhao Jingangnu pressed his hand on his sword and shouted, "He who does not respect the Sage shall be executed! Let me see who dares move!"

Standing there like a demon god, he actually startled the soldiers who had rushed through the door into a daze.

Qian Hongchu quickly rose to his feet and shouted sternly with an unhappy expression, "Withdraw!"

Wang Jiu then said something in Zhang Chengfu's ear, and Zhang Chengfu's gaze immediately turned toward the utterly composed Hu Jinsi.

Hu Jinsi's expression did not change, but Zhang Chengfu's stare made his whole body itch.

Outside, the armored soldiers grew more and more numerous, no fewer than several dozen, yet the three men inside the hall remained calm and composed, clearly not taking this number of men seriously at all.

Hu Jinsi sighed inwardly. These three were not even among the famed bears and tigers under the Shao Ming Son of Heaven, yet their courage was already this abundant.

It not only displayed the confidence of men with nothing to fear, but also showed that the court was brimming with talent and urgently desired to bring Wuyue under control.

And was he himself not precisely in need of the court to untie his knot?

Great King Qian Hongchu probably harbored similar thoughts. Perhaps in his heart Qian Hongchu did not truly wish to surrender his land and offer up his state, but only wanted to borrow the momentum. But Hu Jinsi no longer had time to play games. He suddenly prostrated himself and pleaded.

"My king, He Chengxun committed a breach of decorum before the sovereign, but in consideration of his past merits, I beg that his offense be forgiven."

The Wuyue ministers in the room were all astonished, some even looking at Hu Jinsi with alarm, because He Chengxun was Hu Jinsi's most crucial ally!

The reason old Hu could still meddle in Hangzhou affairs from Yuezhou was precisely the existence of He Chengxun, the Commander who controlled the inner yabing guards.

Now that Hu Jinsi said this, he was in fact passing a message to Qian Hongchu.

Sure enough, Qian Hongchu immediately nodded, and of course did not forget to plead with Zhang Chengfu as well: "The Yue lands are wild and remote, and many people do not know proper ceremony. I beg the angel to be magnanimous."

Zhang Chengfu put on a look of guilt and nodded. "Zhao Jingangnu is a personal attendant of the Sage and has long been spoiled and willful. I beg the Great King to forgive his offense."

Qian Hongchu smiled. He looked at the utterly bedraggled He Chengxun on the ground. "Commander He, go home and recuperate. Next time, do not do such a thing again."

Then he looked at his elder brother Qian Hongzhan and said, "Elder Brother, I must trouble you to make a trip. Send someone to escort Commander He home, and order the royal household's famous physicians to attend him along the way."

Qian Hongzhan hurriedly accepted the order. What "escort He Chengxun home"? The most important thing now was to seize control of the inner yabing guards at once, then scatter money to win over the officers and men.

Zhang Chengfu looked at Hu Jinsi, who had thrown away one of his most important powers without blinking an eye, and he knew where the first move in the game of Wuyue should be played.

"I have heard that Elder Hu once served as a Captain of the Imperial Insignia Guard in Chang'an?"

Hu Jinsi shuddered violently. It was said that the Zhou state's Brocade Guard was all-pervasive, and it seemed that the reputation was well deserved! They had actually managed to find even this tiny trace.

Still, this could count as a connection. Hu Jinsi immediately put on a reminiscent expression and answered in a nostalgic tone.

"In my youth, my father spent money to buy me a minor post in the Imperial Insignia Guard. Little did I expect that I would be able to see with my own eyes the loyal and heroic hero renowned throughout the world, Emperor Huanzu Ding, and even to hear his teachings. Truly a fortune of three lifetimes!"

Damn, living long really is a fine thing! Qian Hongchu could not help sighing inwardly. In all the world, the only person who had seen Zhang Yichao, or even spoken with Zhang Yichao, was probably Hu Jinsi alone.

With this connection alone, he practically held an iron-plated death exemption. When the court compiled the annals of Emperor Huanzu Ding, they would inevitably need Hu Jinsi's testimony as corroboration.

Zhang Chengfu immediately stood up. He said solemnly to Qian Hongchu, "My virtue is shallow, and I was not fortunate enough to have seen my grand-uncle's heroic bearing. Now that Elder Hu is fortunately here, I cannot suppress the stirring in my heart. I beg the Great King's pardon, but I wish to converse freely with Elder Hu about my grand-uncle's past glory."

What could Qian Hongchu say? He knew perfectly well that these two were going off to conspire, but he could say nothing. He could only force out a smile and nod in agreement.

Related