“Emperor Tianyou is far too weak!”
Yao Xishui and Chun Shisanniang entered the Marquis of Xinchang’s residence through the side gate. Passing through the corridor, they had not yet reached the garden where Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu usually received guests when they heard Li Chong’s dissatisfied voice carrying over the courtyard wall.
This corridor was not enclosed—ordinary servants of the residence might pass through it. Yao Xishui frowned slightly, thinking that Li Chong’s failure to consider this point when speaking probably meant he was truly angered by the final outcome.
Yao Xishui cleared her throat and asked across the courtyard wall, “Has Father also come?”
Yao Xishui asked this deliberately to remind Li Chong that walls have ears.
Yao Xishui and Chun Shisanniang entered the garden and saw Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, adoptive father Zhang Ping, Li Chong, and others. They had moved to a pavilion farther from the courtyard wall to talk. She walked over and asked, “What decree has come from the palace?”
“Han Daoming has been appointed Junior Director of the Court of State Ceremonial and transferred Ezhou Governor Tian Chang to take over as Pool Province Governor. The Third Prince goes to Jun Province as governor, concurrently holding the nominal title of E Province Governor. Jun Province Governor will be concurrently held by Left Military Guard Supervising Commissioner Xu Zhaoling. Additionally, Shen Yang has been demoted to serve as Ezhou Administrator…” Zhang Ping repeated the latest news he had heard when entering the palace with Third Prince Yang Yuanpu today.
“Shen Yang’s demotion is rather severe,” Chun Shisanniang remarked with feeling.
The Han family would certainly face punishment. Han Daoming’s transfer from Pool Province Governor, who held military and civil authority over an upper province, to Junior Director of the Court of State Ceremonial—a position as idle as the Directorate of Education—was already the best possible outcome for the Han family.
Shen Yang had previously been a Fourth Rank Prince’s Tutor, and was suddenly demoted to Sixth Rank Ezhou Administrator of a middle province—a drop of essentially five grades. However, as Prince’s Tutor, Shen Yang had supervised all civil and military officials of the Prince’s household, so he naturally bore the greatest responsibility for the “escape” incident.
“And the Han father and son?” Yao Xishui asked.
“Han Daoxun has been additionally granted the title of Hongwen Palace Scholar and Silver Blue Glorious Grandee, receiving the post of Xu Province Defense Commissioner and Governor. Additionally, Han Qian has been appointed Xu Province Vice-Governor, Xu Province Campaign Commander, and Magistrate of Linjiang County!” Zhang Ping said.
Yao Xishui thought to herself that no wonder Li Chong complained so bitterly that Emperor Tianyou was too weak.
The titles of Hongwen Palace Scholar and Silver Blue Glorious Grandee added above Governor had little significance for Han Daoxun—they were merely nominal Third Rank positions. The main purpose was perhaps to prevent the Han father and son from easily becoming vassals of Tan Province. But adding the Defense Commissioner title had great practical significance for the Han father and son.
As Governor, one wielded both military and civil authority, nominally commanding the provincial garrison as well. But the provincial garrison’s primary duty was still suppressing bandits and maintaining security in provincial and county cities. As Defense Commissioner, however, one had the power to conduct military campaigns, could punish officials under martial law, and could independently appoint middle and lower-grade military officers of Sixth Rank and below, granting military merit rewards.
This undoubtedly acknowledged the Han father and son’s de facto control of Xu Province.
“Emperor Tianyou actually conferred titles and granted noble ranks to the Han father and son like this?” Chun Shisanniang had anticipated it, but seeing this scene truly unfold still shocked her profoundly. It was almost as if all of Han Qian’s calculations had yielded tangible benefits.
“What else could be done without conferring titles and granting ranks?” Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu sighed lightly. “Conferring titles and granting ranks, or essentially allowing the Han father and son to establish themselves independently in Xu Province, is stronger for the court’s situation than having the Han father and son completely become vassals of Tan Province!”
Hearing Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu explain it this way, Chun Shisanniang began to understand somewhat.
The court could not possibly send troops to attack Xu Province, nor could it give Tan Province justification to deploy forces. At this time, if a decree were issued to investigate Han Qian’s escape crime, it would suppress the Han father and son. After all, the four major clans within Xu Province mostly wanted to use the court’s authority to resist the Han father and son. But this would also force the Han father and son to completely turn toward Tan Province, borrowing Tan Province’s strength to suppress opposition forces within Xu Province.
Not only could Tan Province take the opportunity to secretly control Xu Province, but Chen Province, located between Xu Province and Lang Province, would inevitably fall into Tan Province’s hands as well. What benefit would this have for Great Chu?
To put it bluntly, what the court now had to consider was no longer Han Qian’s escape or the Han father and son’s independent establishment in Xu Province, but the Ma family of Tan Province.
Once Tan Province changed hands, Great Chu’s national structure would face severe threats.
Conferring titles and granting ranks at this time to stabilize the Han father and son and prevent them from completely turning toward Tan Province might be embarrassing to the court’s dignity, but the actual political situation could not be considered bad for Great Chu.
After all, the court had little control over Xu Province to begin with. Even allowing the Han father and son hereditary control could not be considered much of a loss to the court.
As for the Han father and son, given their great ambitions, as long as it was possible, they probably would not willingly become vassals of the Ma clan of Tan Province, would they?
“Still, this treats the Han father and son far too leniently!” Li Chong said, still indignant and resentful.
“It cannot be calculated that way,” Zhang Ping sighed lightly and said, “The decree for Han Daoming’s transfer will be personally delivered by Director Shen of the Palace Domestic Service. At that time, Director Shen will privately advise the Han clan to voluntarily disband their household troops and move all Han clan members to reside in Jinling!”
Hearing Zhang Ping say this, Li Chong found it somewhat easier to accept. He thought to himself that Emperor Tianyou was not muddled after all. This was to guard against the possibility that Han Daoxun and Han Qian’s earlier break with the Han clan had also been an act, while simultaneously holding Han Wenhuan and other Han clan members hostage in Jinling, clearing the Han clan’s influence in Pool Province and Xuan Province…
———
———
The Han clan’s grand residence in Jinling was far more impressive than the house Han Daoxun and Han Qian father and son had in Lanting Lane.
The Han residence occupied about ten-odd acres. Entering through the main gate, the foremost Mingju Hall served as Han Wenhuan’s reception hall from years past. Besides the side chambers on both sides, the great hall measured a full ten zhang square, with famous contemporary calligraphy and paintings hanging on all four walls to demonstrate the Han clan’s extensive social connections.
Behind Mingju Hall was a half-acre koi pond called Jianxin Pool, surrounded by ornamental rocks and artificial hills.
The Han residence was divided into eastern and western sections with Mingju Hall and Jianxin Pool as the central axis. Corridors extended from Mingju Hall, with seven or eight courtyards and fifty or sixty rooms in each section.
At this moment, all the Han family members were gathered in Mingju Hall. Han Daoming’s branch, Han Daochang’s branch, wives, concubines, sons, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, plus Old Master Han Wenhuan’s two sons by concubines over forty years old and their wives and concubines—over fifty people packed the spacious Mingju Hall full.
Imperial Envoy Shen He had just left, but Shen He’s soft voice still echoed in everyone’s ears.
Han Jun and Han Duan, as the eldest sons of the two Han branches, sat dazed on the floor until someone behind them reminded them to stand up.
At this time, the others gradually withdrew, leaving only Han Jun, Han Duan, and Han Daoming’s two sons by concubines Han Chengmeng and Han Jianji remaining in Mingju Hall, accompanying Old Master Han Wenhuan along with Han Daoming and Han Daochang to talk.
Although the final punishment was much better than the fearful anxiety they felt when first hearing of Han Qian’s escape in Pool Province, people are always greedy for more.
Abandoning such extensive family business established in Xuan Province and Pool Province, with all the Han clan’s old and young moving into Jinling as essentially hostages—whose heart could easily digest this?
“His Majesty’s decree means that if there are any rash moves on the Xu Province side, our entire Han clan will be dragged down to be buried with them?” Han Jun looked at his father with difficulty and asked.
“That is how it is today. Everyone must be careful with their words and actions from now on. Involve yourselves less in the Crown Prince and Prince Xin’s affairs—our Han clan no longer has the qualifications to involve ourselves in such matters!” Han Wenhuan said wearily, his heart and strength exhausted. After speaking, he stood up trembling, waving his hand to summon a maid to support him as he left Mingju Hall to return to the residence behind to rest.
“Father, the Han family’s hopes cannot be pinned on Third Brother!” Han Daochang could not suppress the unwillingness in his heart any longer and spoke out.
Hearing his second uncle’s words, Han Jun was suddenly alarmed. Looking at his grandfather, he thought that when the old master warned them not to involve themselves in anything and to observe quietly, wasn’t he pinning the Han clan’s hopes on Xu Province?
His father, second uncle, and that treacherous villain in Xu Province were full brothers. In the old master’s eyes, that father and son establishing themselves firmly in Xu Province was equivalent to the Han clan flourishing there, wasn’t it?
But the difference for them was enormous. Would Xu Province have any place for them to stand in the future? And would whatever that side did in Xu Province take their lives into consideration?
Of course, though Han Jun agreed completely with his second uncle’s objection, as a member of the younger generation, he dared not speak recklessly before the old master. Turning his head, he saw the front courtyard steward hesitating before Mingju Hall, seeming to have something to report but not daring to approach. Frowning, he demanded, “Han Song, what matter do you have, cowering like that?”
“Someone called Jiang Huo, a clerk from the Third Prince’s household, has sent over a calling card requesting to see the Old Master and the Master. The person is waiting outside,” the front courtyard steward said hesitantly as he walked to the corridor.
“Someone from the Prince’s household has come to see us?” Han Daoming was puzzled but could not turn the person away. He ordered, “Show him in.”
Jiang Huo entered Mingju Hall with two young eunuchs in green robes, bowing very politely to Han Wenhuan, Han Daoming, and Han Daochang: “Jinyun Tower Chief Clerk Jiang Huo of the Linjiang Prince’s household pays respects to Old Master Han, Master Han, and Second Master Han—”
Before Han Qian’s escape, as Literary Attendant, he had been the head official of Jinyun Tower in the Linjiang Prince’s household. When Jiang Huo announced his identity, everyone in Mingju Hall was both shocked and suspicious, not knowing why Jiang Huo had come.
“What instruction does Director Jiang have in honoring us with your presence?” Han Daoming asked.
“All the turmoil of this past month has finally been resolved today. Han Daoxun and Han Qian remain loyal subjects and worthy sons of our Great Chu. Jiang Huo has come especially to congratulate Old Master Han, Master Han, and Second Master Han,” Jiang Huo said with a smiling face. “However, before Han Qian left Jinling to take up his post in Xu Province, he withdrew from the Prince’s household four thousand loads of salt, eight thousand bolts of silk, sixty-two thousand shi of refined rice, four hundred sets of leather armor, three hundred composite bows, plus other goods valued at approximately fifty thousand strings of cash. Here are all of Han Qian’s signed receipts. Jiang Huo was thinking about going to Xu Province to collect this debt, but the journey is long and the waters distant, quite inconvenient. However, since Han Qian is Old Master Han’s legitimate grandson, His Highness said this debt could perhaps be settled if Old Master Han would advance the payment first!”
Hearing these words, watching Jiang Huo slowly pull a stack of account books from his breast, Han Daochang nearly fainted from anger. The Third Prince wanted to force them to repay the money and grain that villain Han Qian had taken from the Prince’s household?
How could there be such logic in the world?
Jiang Huo did not stop because the Han family’s expressions had changed dramatically. He continued speaking in a genial manner: “When Han Qian went to Xu Province, he also took over seven hundred scouts, craftsmen, and young disciples from the Prince’s household, leaving behind over a thousand orphans and widows with no one to support them. His Majesty in his benevolence wanted to send all these orphans and widows to Xu Province, but some officials said the journey to Xu Province was perilous, and should anything happen along the way, the court would have no way to answer to Han Qian. It would be better for the Prince’s household to care for them properly here. However, I believe Old Master Han, Master Han, and Second Master Han can all understand His Highness’s feelings about this. So I was thinking, since Han Qian and Third Master Han are in Xu Province and cannot care for these thousand orphans and widows, we can only trouble Old Master Han, Master Han, and Second Master Han to do so on their behalf. If Old Master Han finds it troublesome to send people directly to the residence, we can calculate it as three jin of grain per person per day, amounting to one thousand strings of cash per month…”
These thousand-plus orphans and widows were perhaps the court’s final means of restraining Xu Province. Rather than directly gathering and confining them under the Prince’s household’s support, they actually wanted to extort provisions from the Han family here. Han Daochang’s temples throbbed with anger!
Outrageous, absolutely outrageous!