A remnant sun spreads across the water; half the river rustles, half the river red.
Han Qian saw his second uncle’s family’s cousin Han Duan standing behind that burly military officer, his expression uncertain as he looked toward them. He smiled and asked his father, “I didn’t expect Han Duan to also be in Chizhou. Father, do you think he has the courage to step onto our ship and invite us to Chizhou?”
Han Duan ultimately didn’t dare step onto the ship Han Qian and the others were traveling on. Keeping several zhang distance, he had someone stop the fast boat in the middle of the river. Standing at the bow, he performed a salute and said, “Grandfather arrived in Chizhou two days ago to escape the heat. My father and eldest uncle are currently accompanying him in the city. Estimating that Third Uncle’s ship should pass Chizhou today, they specifically had Han Duan wait below the city to invite Third Uncle into the city for a gathering.”
Han Qian stood with hands in sleeves watching the rolling river waters. After several heavy rains following the start of summer, the water level gradually rose and spread toward both banks, while the water color also became murky.
Grandfather Han Wenhuan retired from office in autumn of the ninth year of Emperor Tianyou’s reign and returned to Xuanzhou to recuperate from illness. At that time, Han Qian was already spending his days loitering around gambling dens and brothels. He also feared his grandfather’s gloomy demeanor and kept far away from him all day, with few opportunities for contact. At this moment he also couldn’t fathom what his grandfather Han Wenhuan was thinking appearing in Chizhou at this time. Was the Third Prince really so unworthy of expectations?
Han Daoxun had originally planned to quietly bypass Chizhou and continue west. He hadn’t expected his old father to be in Chizhou at this time. No matter how unwilling he felt, there was no reason to avoid meeting him. He immediately had Fan Xicheng and the others instruct the crew to control the sailing ship to follow behind the fast boat Han Duan was riding, heading toward Chizhou City.
The ship moored in the harbor of Chizhou’s naval garrison. The household soldiers and families, as well as Ji Fu, Ji Xiyao and others, also came ashore. Han Duan arranged for someone to remain at the military camp to receive them. Additionally, horses were prepared. Han Qian and his father, bringing Fan Xicheng, Zhao Kuo and others, followed Han Duan and the military officers from eldest uncle Han Daoming’s side, trotting all the way into the city and entering the rear residence of the Regional Inspector’s office located in the southwest corner of the city.
Walking through a narrow passageway, Han Qian first caught sight of the three old household soldiers whose right arms he had ordered broken at his family residence before the new year, standing at the end of the corridor. He smiled coldly in his heart and said to his father in a lowered voice, “See, it truly is a Hongmen Banquet.”
In this era there was no particularly advanced bone-setting medical skill. Plaster was still a type of internal medicine; no physician or doctor had yet thought to use it together with splints—a good method for fixing broken bones during healing.
Therefore, for the three household soldiers nicknamed Dog Donkey, their circumstances were only slightly better than Niu Erdan who was shot dead on the spot. After their injuries healed, their right arms remained crippled, becoming disabled men.
These three originally possessed superior martial skills and gained Han Daoming’s great trust, which is why they were arranged to serve at the side of his eldest son Han Jun.
Having served in Chaozhou and Chizhou, following the Han Daoming and Han Jun father-son duo with distinguished service and hard work, their status in the Han family was much higher than ordinary household soldiers. In the future they might not lack the possibility of leaving servitude and establishing their own households.
A bright future destroyed overnight at Han Qian’s hands—now they had also become disabled men. Seeing Third Master Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian walking in, how could they not harbor hatred in their hearts?
Fan Xicheng, Zhao Kuo, and Han Laoshan—the three of them accompanied Han Daoxun and Han Qian into the city. No matter how slow-witted they were, seeing the three Dog Donkey men, they knew tonight’s banquet was ill-intentioned.
Fan Xicheng, Zhao Kuo, and Han Laoshan were still worried that the First Master and Second Master, relying on the old family head’s presence, might condemn young master Han Qian—how would today’s situation be resolved? They hadn’t expected young master Han Qian to first nonchalantly expose that today was a Hongmen Banquet.
Just as Han Daoxun was hesitating, he heard a burst of violent coughing from inside. With a slight sigh, he stepped forward toward the inner courtyard.
Behind the spirit screen wall was a garden about half a mu in size. It was currently early summer with lush green trees. Han Qian followed his father inside. The first thing that caught his eye was several decorative rock mountains surrounding a long narrow pond. Seeing water gurgling out from the pond, with stone-built shallow channels leading water out of the garden, he realized the garden happened to be built atop a spring.
Chizhou City was built during the previous dynasty’s Huichang reign. The government offices and official residences in the city had long formed today’s layout, but his eldest uncle being able to live in such a residence was truly picturesque indeed.
A small stone bridge crossed over the pond. Beyond the bridge, twenty or thirty people were gathered around like stars and moon surrounding the old master who was so thin he was just skin and bones, his face covered with age spots.
Eldest uncle Han Daoming and second uncle Han Daochang both had burly builds. At this moment they stood behind the old master, looking over with gloomy eyes. Eldest uncle Han Daoming’s son Han Jun’s eyes hooked over like fishhooks, as if considering whether it was necessary for him to take advantage of home field today to give Han Qian a show of force first.
Han Qian smiled coldly in his heart. When they left Jinling by boat, they had confirmed that Han Jun was also in Jinling at that time. They hadn’t expected him to still beat them here and return to Chizhou. He wondered if he had the courage today to seek revenge and settle grievances.
Perhaps having just received the report that Third Brother’s father and son had arrived, although there were nearly thirty men and women, young and old in the garden, the atmosphere appeared oppressive. Almost no one spoke, but rather all looked uniformly toward the garden gate.
Besides the old master, second uncle Han Daochang, second uncle’s son Han Duan, and several maids and servant women serving in the garden, everyone else should be eldest uncle Han Daoming’s wives, concubines and offspring.
Eldest uncle Han Daoming had one wife and two concubines. His principal wife had produced the eldest son Han Jun who reached adulthood, and the two concubine chambers had borne two common sons and three common daughters, all now married. Additionally, eldest uncle Han Daoming’s branch had already produced six grandchildren.
Compared to his family with only father and son depending on each other, this could completely be called prosperous offspring.
After a bout of violent coughing, Han Wenhuan recovered his breath slightly. Watching the Han Daoxun and Han Qian father-son duo cross the stone bridge, he said, “Third son, you’ve become quite accomplished now!”
“It’s all thanks to Father’s teachings,” Han Daoxun led Han Qian over and knelt before the corridor to pay respects. “Your son has floated up and down in the official sea, unable to fulfill filial piety at Father’s side for a long time. Is Father’s health well?”
“Still tolerable. You father and son, both come sit and talk. When I expire, you’ll have your time to kneel.” Han Wenhuan leaned forward, wanting Han Daoxun to bring Han Qian to sit nearby and talk.
Perhaps because Han Qian had changed tremendously in temperament, Han Wenhuan couldn’t help but look at Han Qian a few more times. Yang Jia, who had been sent to Chizhou before the new year, instinctively held her children’s hands and moved far away from Han Qian, as if avoiding a venomous snake.
Knowing there would be matters to discuss next, the female family members at this time each took their children and left the garden.
“Second brother, fourth brother, we rarely gather together. It’s not yet mealtime—why don’t you stay and talk with us more?” Han Qian saw his eldest uncle Han Daoming’s two common-born cousins, Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji, also about to leave with the female family members. He directly called the two of them to stop, then performed a salute toward three other young men whose faces showed surprise, asking, “These three are the husbands of Hong Gu, Qi Gu, and Xiu Niang—please also stay and talk with the old master…”
In this era the distinction between wife and concubine status was extremely strict, extending to the status of legitimate sons and common sons with vast differences.
As common sons of Han Daoming, besides being unable to inherit hereditary titles and honors, Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji usually only handled ordinary affairs in Chizhou, completely incomparable to the true legitimate eldest grandson of the Han family’s senior branch, Han Jun. They also knew that having intercepted Third Uncle’s father and son on shore, what would be discussed next could be called the Han clan’s most secret matters. They knew better than to take their leave, much less the three common daughters’ husbands.
If it were someone else, seeing others about to condemn them, they would become cautious and careful, absolutely not casually interfering in others’ household affairs. But after Han Qian was brought by his father to kneel and kowtow to the old master, he was already extremely unwilling. How could he possibly let eldest uncle and the others control the development of the situation afterward?
Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji usually had excellent sense of propriety. Hearing Han Qian’s call, they also froze for a moment before looking toward their father Han Daoming. Since Han Qian had called out to them, if they ignored it and walked straight out, it would seem very inappropriate. But whether they could stay still depended on the opinion of this father of theirs who usually never smiled carelessly.
The three common sons-in-law stood there with lowered heads even more so, obviously also wanting to see whether Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji would stay or go.
Han Daoming’s serious face was already quite gloomy. At this moment it appeared somewhat darkened. He glanced at his nephew Han Qian whom he hadn’t seen more than a few times since birth. Seeing that Han Daoxun didn’t speak up to rebuke Han Qian for talking too much, he could only say in a muffled voice to his two common sons and three common sons-in-law, “You also stay and talk together.”
“Eldest brother Han Jun is now an Assistant Administrator in the Privy Council, with opportunities to have imperial audiences. Naturally his future prospects are vast.”
Han Qian very enthusiastically welcomed Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji over, inviting them to sit beside him. Very ostentatiously, he pulled out a waist token from his bosom and passed it to the two of them to look at.
“Right now, in the Third Prince’s presence, I’ve also obtained a position as Deputy Commander of the Guard Battalion. They say the rank corresponds to Upper Eighth Rank—can’t compare with eldest brother, but it’s also considered a small achievement. Second brother, fourth brother, we haven’t met for a while. Has eldest uncle helped you obtain formal official positions?”
“…” Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji looked at each other, truly not knowing how to answer Han Qian’s words.
In this era the distinction between legitimate and common was a natural and righteous matter. But Han Jun had everything—only thirty years old and already an Assistant Administrator in the Privy Council at Lower Sixth Rank, even with opportunities for imperial audience. Naturally brilliant success could be expected, his prospects possibly even surpassing grandfather and father. How could Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji not have some thoughts in their hearts?
Looking at themselves—no qualifications for hereditary succession, no ability to participate in the currently not very valued imperial examinations.
Though the court currently could recommend officials through inspection, every three years each prefecture could only recommend two to three people. The legitimate sons and legitimate grandsons of various families were all queuing and waiting. Though they were sons of the Regional Inspector, they were common sons. For their turn to come, they might have to wait ten or twenty years before obtaining a low-level honorary official status.
Han Qian saying these words truly stabbed viciously at their painful spot. Not to mention Han Qian also took out his Deputy Commander of the Guard Battalion waist token to show off, almost dazzling their eyes blind.
The Dragon Sparrow Army belonged to the Imperial Guard forces. Within the Imperial Guard system, an ordinary battalion commander’s rank was set at Lower Eighth Rank.
But the Guard Battalion at the Third Prince Yang Yuanpu’s side was the Imperial Guard among Imperial Guards. Even without other additional appointments, all military officers from top to bottom were one to two ranks higher comparatively. The Deputy Commander of the Guard Battalion corresponded to Upper Eighth Rank.
Upper Eighth Rank appeared quite ordinary. But as an upper prefecture governing eight counties with five thousand prefecture soldiers, Chizhou had only sixty to seventy people with proper ranked official positions in total.
One must know that in this era, descendants of hereditary nobility could easily inherit honorary official ranks. But following normal procedures, after inheriting honorary official rank, one still needed to serve as assistant officials in various government offices or at the side of mid-to-high-ranking officials for eight to ten years of training before having qualifications to be formally recommended for appointment to positions wielding actual authority.
Han Qian at this time wasn’t even twenty years old yet but had already received an Upper Eighth Rank position. If one didn’t look at the prospects of the respective masters they followed, at least on the surface, Han Qian was even more dazzling than Han Jun.
Seeing Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji’s faces full of embarrassment, Han Qian again asked with feigned surprise, “What, second brother, fourth brother, you can’t be like your worthless third brother, still not having secured a formal official position by now? What about honorary official rank—do you have Eighth Rank now?”
Han Duan had originally embraced an attitude of watching a good show, waiting for the old master and eldest uncle to severely deal with this scum Han Qian. But at this moment hearing Han Qian describe him as so worthless, he ground his teeth in hatred until they nearly shattered…