Not long after Han Qian and his group settled into Jinxing Ward, Shen Yang, the Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, and the Supervisory Commissioner Guo Rong, whom they had encountered again after arriving at Xiangzhou City, were summoned to the Defense Commissioner’s Residence, which was serving as a temporary imperial headquarters, for an audience with Emperor Tianyou.
Even Li Chong accompanied the Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu to the imperial audience, but Han Qian was not on the list of those summoned.
“The Lord is actually not on the summons list?”
“How is that possible? The armies of Deng and Xiang were beaten to such a pathetic state, yet Ma Xun is perfectly fine—shouldn’t the court at least use the Lord’s achievements to save some face?”
“Exactly! Without the Lord, Great Chu would have already lost Jingxiang by now. If he’s not immediately enfeoffed as a marquis, how can he not even receive a summons?”
Tian Cheng had remained in Xichuan to guard the remnants of the Xuzhou camp, while Gao Shao, Lin Haizheng, Xi Chang, Yang Qin, Feng Xuan, and others who had accompanied Han Qian south were all somewhat indignant.
Although Han Qian held a lowly official position, merely Deputy Commander of the Guard Battalion, his trusted followers like Gao Shao clearly understood what a crucial role Han Qian had played and what great merit he had achieved in ultimately holding Xichuan City and repelling the Liang forces.
Even if the matter of discovering Prince Yong Liang Yu could not be spoken of openly, there were still many accomplishments: constructing Canglang City, assisting Li Zhigao in repelling the Liang surprise attack at Tieeling, detaining the Yingzhou grain transport fleet, escorting the Third Prince to Xichuan to execute the deserting general Xia Zhen and stabilize military morale, stockpiling vast quantities of grain and supplies on the western front before the war—with much of the supplies advanced by the Xuzhou shipping guild—showing weakness to the enemy, creating new trebuchets, setting up an ambush to severely damage Liang forces and inspire morale, and throughout establishing contact with and winning over the stronghold forces. All of this was accomplished through Han Qian’s personal efforts.
Without Han Qian, Xiangzhou City would likely have already fallen, and the Jinling reinforcements would only be able to rely on Jingzhou City, locked in endless stalemate with the Liang forces.
It could be said that Han Qian had preserved Great Chu’s Jingxiang.
Even setting all that aside, while Han Qian’s official rank could not compare with people like Shen Yang, even that fellow Li Chong had the opportunity for an imperial audience. Yet Han Qian was not on the summons list—how could the Left Division’s subordinates remain calm?
“What are you muttering about? Go do what you’re supposed to do. Will you really receive any less reward?” Hearing Gao Shao, Yang Qin, and the others muttering loudly about this in private, Han Qian scolded them irritably and drove them from the front courtyard.
“What, do you truly have no resentment in your heart, or are you just too cautious to show even a trace of grievance?” As Han Qian turned back, he discovered that at some point Yao Xishui had poked her head over from the other side of the courtyard wall, mocking him coldly.
The conditions at Xichuan had been crude after all. Once the fighting had subsided somewhat, Yao Xishui had first escorted Zhang Ping, who had been severely injured while rescuing the Third Prince, back to Xiangzhou City for treatment.
Han Qian had just received word two days ago in Xichuan that although Zhang Ping’s left shoulder and below were completely ruined, his life had been saved under the treatment of the imperial physicians accompanying Emperor Tianyou.
Han Qian had not expected that Yao Xishui and Zhang Ping had returned to Xiangzhou City early, and were actually staying in the courtyard next to his.
“Does Miss Yao think I should feel resentful?” Han Qian asked with a smile.
There was a wooden ladder against the wall. Han Qian climbed up and saw that Yao Xishui was similarly standing on a wooden ladder in the neighboring courtyard, while Zhang Ping lay in the courtyard basking in the sun. Although his left arm had not been amputated, it hung limply on an armrest—with the medical standards of this era, that arm was completely ruined.
Besides Yao Xishui’s two personal maidservants in the courtyard, there were also two blue-robed young eunuchs, fifteen or sixteen years old.
Han Qian had not seen them around Zhang Ping and Yao Xishui before. They must have just arrived in Xiangzhou City, but since they were eunuchs appearing openly in Xiangzhou City, they must be palace eunuchs from the Palace Attendant Bureau who had accompanied Emperor Tianyou on this western campaign and had now been assigned to attend to the injured Zhang Ping.
Han Qian’s brow furrowed slightly. Looking at Yao Xishui across the wall, he continued with a smile:
“Think about it—if not for Han Qian’s painstaking schemes, all your years of hard work, Miss Yao and Lord Zhang, would have already turned to nothing. Yet even now, I see no gratitude from Miss Yao or Lord Zhang. Tell me, Miss Yao, should I feel resentful or not?”
Seeing Yao Xishui’s beautiful eyes flash with anger, Han Qian smiled again and said, “So you see, thunder and rain alike are all imperial grace. We who are subjects should be cautious in our words and deeds. It is most taboo to become arrogant and forget oneself just because of some achievements! Miss Yao, wouldn’t you say that’s the truth?”
Seeing Han Qian speak so brazenly about Emperor Tianyou’s harsh ingratitude while also mocking their own ungratefulness, Yao Xishui thought to herself why she had bothered to provoke this harbinger of misfortune. But seeing that after speaking these words, Han Qian’s eyes were scrutinizing the two blue-robed young eunuchs beside her adoptive father Zhang Ping, she sensed inwardly that this fellow was truly cunning—his words were more intended to test the reactions of Jixiang and Ruyi, weren’t they?
“The Imperial Consort was concerned that the Guard Battalion recruits were all sons of refugees, all clumsy and awkward, not knowing how to attend to His Highness’s daily needs. This time she specially assigned two young eunuchs from her service to care for His Highness,” Yao Xishui said with a slight smile, beckoning to the two blue-robed young eunuchs. “Jixiang, Ruyi, come and meet Lord Han.”
Han Qian sighed softly. He did not understand palace affairs very well and was unclear how deeply the Wanhong House had infiltrated the palace, much less how deeply the Imperial Consort was involved with the Wanhong House. Perhaps his efforts with the Third Prince would ultimately come to nothing because of the Imperial Consort’s existence.
“Jixiang and Ruyi pay respects to Lord Han. If we hadn’t just heard your subordinates voicing all those complaints, we truly wouldn’t have known that Lord Han’s achievements were so illustrious!” The two blue-robed young eunuchs stepped forward to bow, their tone of voice containing needles wrapped in silk. Who knew how long they had been castrated to already be so passive-aggressive?
“Well said, well said.” Han Qian seemed completely oblivious to the sarcasm in their words, appearing like a soft persimmon ready to be kneaded by anyone. He simply cupped his hands with a smile, glanced at Zhang Ping’s still somewhat pale face, then retreated back into his own courtyard.
“Two dog slaves, knowing nothing of the situation yet already trying to show your might?” Zhang Ping, however, was not polite. He glared at the two blue-robed young eunuchs and scolded them, sending them back to the rear courtyard so they wouldn’t be eyesores.
“Does Master Uncle mean we shouldn’t provoke Han Qian?” Yao Xishui asked doubtfully.
“After this battle, the Longque Army and His Highness alike have gained tremendous prestige. Even if His Majesty won’t immediately have thoughts of deposing the heir apparent, our conflicts with Anning Palace and the Crown Prince’s faction will become ten times, a hundred times sharper than before. What good does it do us to contend with Han Qian?” Zhang Ping asked in a lowered voice.
“The tiger we’ve raised has already become a problem—I fear he’ll become a great problem in the future!” Yao Xishui said.
“You mean Han Qian won’t let go of the old matter of us attempting to poison him?” Zhang Ping asked.
“…” Yao Xishui said nothing.
“Regardless of whether he’s let it go in his heart, the fact that after instigating Zhigao to forcibly disband the Guard Battalion, he could still approach us for cooperation as if nothing had happened—that alone makes him superior to us.” Zhang Ping said with a sigh.
…
…
The fighting had just subsided, and Xiangzhou City was crude. The rear residence of the Defense Commissioner’s Residence, temporarily serving as the imperial camp, differed little from an ordinary wealthy household except for the denser placement of lamps and guards.
In the great hall, candles burned with crackling sounds. The Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, father and son Li Chong, Shen Yang, Guo Rong, and the others had all withdrawn. The palace guards had also retreated behind the hall so as not to disturb His Majesty’s private conversation with the Third Prince.
Shen He thought to himself that as Deputy Director of the Palace Attendant Bureau, having served at His Majesty’s side for over twenty years since the uprising in Huainan, he was probably the only person in Xiangzhou City qualified to hear this father and son’s intimate words, wasn’t he?
Shen He did not feel complacent about this. Rather, he stood attending even more respectfully to the side, constantly taking care to minimize his presence.
However, the Third Prince did not yet seem accustomed to that sense of “seeing no one else” and would unconsciously glance his way from time to time.
“Guo Liang has a proud and upright temperament, Gao Chengyuan is mature and prudent, Zhou Shu is extraordinarily brave in battle, but Li Zhigao excels more in strategy. Although Zheng Hui is a military general, he possesses civil talents; though Zhou Dan comes from a stronghold background, his learning and military strategy are both excellent. Besides these, Chai Jian, Li Chong, Zhou Yuan, and even Zhang Qian each have their strengths. Your son believes that by employing these men well, both the Longque Army and Junzhou can be well governed, and your son can share Father Emperor’s concerns…”
The Third Prince’s expression as he spoke under the lamplight was somewhat nervous, but to Shen He’s observation, this was still normal. Even the Crown Prince Yang Yuanwo, grown man that he was, would feel uncomfortable all over under His Majesty’s scrutiny.
Thinking of this, Shen He couldn’t help but glance southeast, but he forcibly restrained himself, fearing that his desired “non-presence” would be destroyed by unconscious small movements.
To be honest, when His Majesty initially decided to personally lead the campaign and leave Crown Prince Yang Yuanwo to oversee the state in Jinling, Shen He had still felt some small worry in his heart. But with the Jingxiang situation stabilizing so smoothly, there was truly no need to worry about any hidden troubles on the Jinling side.
Of course, seeing His Majesty’s face remain calm under the lamplight, Shen He could not divine whether he was satisfied with the Third Prince’s words or not.
“I did not punish Ma Xun for losing the city. What do you think about that, Pu’er?”
Hearing His Majesty suddenly raise his head and ask the Third Prince this question, Shen He started, sensing inwardly that Shen Yang and the others must have only learned of this matter after entering the city and probably could not have prepared an answer for the Third Prince in advance.
“Ma Xun abandoned the city in a great rout, causing over ten thousand soldiers to die miserably. Even dismembering his body would hardly atone for his crime. But to truly punish him would destabilize Tanzhou, which would be a great harm. At this time, Jingxiang is devastated, and reorganizing the military preparations will cost who knows how much. If Tanzhou also falls into chaos, Great Chu’s national governance will become even more dire. Moreover, when the Liang forces brazenly marched south, the Shu Kingdom watched from across the river from beginning to end, showing that their intentions are not pure. If Tanzhou becomes chaotic, it’s hard to say whether Shu won’t take advantage of the chaos. However, your son believes that even if his crime is pardoned, it should not be lightly pardoned. Tanzhou should be made to show something as atonement! With the defeat at Zaoyang, Tanzhou lost five thousand elite troops. I imagine that if Father Emperor has demands of Tanzhou, Tanzhou should not refuse, would they?”
Sitting in the shadows where the lamplight could not directly reach, Shen He heard the Third Prince’s response and was secretly amazed.
“It seems that Han Qian’s instruction of you is truly superior to that old stubborn Shen Yang! These past two days, I was already thinking of sending an envoy to Tanzhou to ask Ma Yin about strategies for defending Jingxiang. Although I haven’t punished Ma Xun’s crime, when Ma Xun can return to Tanzhou still depends on whether the strategies Ma Yin offers suit my intentions. According to Pu’er’s view, it would be better for me to simply state the conditions clearly to Tanzhou?”
At this moment, Shen He couldn’t help but glance at the Third Prince, wondering how he would answer this question.
“Jingxiang is devastated. For the court to requisition money, grain, and relocate people to solidify the borders from Tanzhou—which is nearest and has the convenience of the Yangzi River—is entirely natural and righteous. Your son recalls that last summer and autumn, Tanzhou memorialized that three prefectures suffered floods and waterlogging, causing over twenty thousand households of people to be displaced and requiring relief, using this to default on the money and grain that should have been sent to the Ministry of Finance these past years. At that time, Father Emperor did not dispute with Tanzhou, also thinking of the common people. Your son thinks that if Father Emperor now orders Tanzhou to relocate these twenty thousand disaster-affected households to Deng and Xiang for resettlement, to share Tanzhou’s concerns, Tanzhou should have nothing to say.”
Shen He was secretly astonished. He had not expected the Third Prince to think of this tactic of pulling the firewood from under the cauldron.
“This suggestion of yours is quite good, Pu’er. Let me think about it and see if there are any flaws. You should go back and rest now!”
Shen He stood up, preparing to see the Third Prince off, but saw the Third Prince hesitate for a while without immediately rising to take his leave. He wondered what else he had to say to His Majesty.
“What is it? Do you have something to say to me, Pu’er?”
“In holding Xichuan, Han Qian in your son’s service truly rendered great merit?”
“Pu’er, do you think that my not summoning Han Qian today shows unclear rewards and punishments?”
“Your son believes that everything Father Emperor does has its reasons. It’s just that your son is dull-witted and hasn’t understood them yet.”
“Han Qian has long been able to create military innovations like the scorpion crossbow and whirlwind trebuchet, yet he did not present them to assist the court in defeating enemies, but instead used them to win extraordinary merit. That I haven’t cut off his head is already the greatest reward for him. Moreover, Han Qian is only twenty years old. Even if rewards are to be given, granting more estates and beautiful concubines is sufficient. Otherwise, Pu’er, one day you will understand that those subjects who have no more rewards to give are more dangerous than enemy states.”
Shen He’s heart jumped. Only then did he understand that His Majesty’s deliberate failure to summon Han Qian this time was actually a warning to him. Of course, he deeply agreed with His Majesty’s words, thinking to himself that this Han Qian, at such a young age, already had such deep schemes—if he were enfeoffed as a marquis and granted titles now, what would happen in the future?