Chen De’s words were like a giant boulder smashing into a calm lake surface, instantly stirring up enormous waves that shook everyone’s hearts violently.
What did it mean that Han Qian led people away from Fanchang City?
The great hall instantly fell silent as a crow’s flight. Everyone looked toward Chen De in shock, all suspecting their ears had deceived them, or that Chen De had drunk too much and was talking nonsense.
Chen De was one of the Grand Consort’s few trustworthy relatives at court—strictly speaking, merely a cousin from the Grand Consort’s maternal family. In early years in the military, he was only a mid-level military officer at the deputy battalion commander level. When Yang Yuanpu left the palace for his mansion, the Grand Consort, worried that Yang Yuanpu’s personal safety couldn’t be guaranteed, insisted Chen De serve beside Yang Yuanpu as guard battalion commander.
Though Chen De had no special achievements afterward, he was loyal and conscientious at Yang Yuanpu’s side. Rising steadily with the tide, now only in his forties, he served as Commander of the Martial Virtue Department, responsible for commanding the palace guards, ranking above other commanders.
Besides his fondness for gambling, Chen De wasn’t careless in handling matters.
At this moment, he stood up like a cat whose tail had been burned, clutching the letter the junior officer had just handed him, saying to Yang Yuanpu: “Han Qian has already left the city, leaving this letter, saying it should be delivered to Your Highness and the administrators…”
Chen De was also extremely shocked. Standing there stiffly speaking, he forgot to immediately hand the letter Han Qian left to Yang Yuanpu, unable to help lowering his head to read it first.
Han Qian left the city?
At this moment, everyone confirmed this news, their hearts surging even more turbulently, countless thoughts rising.
What did Han Qian mean by this—unable to restrain himself, was he rushing to Langxi to incite the Left Guangde Army to rebel?
Or perhaps, unable to bear His Highness’s suppression and coercion, Han Qian had long secretly colluded with Anning Palace?
Not to mention Li Pu and Han Daoming—even Zheng Yu and Yang Zhitang at this moment felt as if ice water had been poured over their heads. Their hearts seemed shrouded by billions of dark clouds. Their entire bodies seemed struck by lightning as they sat there rigidly, completely unable to imagine how severe the consequences would be if Han Qian turned against them to join Anning Palace.
Zhang Ping also sat there with a pale face. He absolutely hadn’t expected Han Qian’s reaction would be so intense—unable to bear the coercion, he simply left the city directly.
After leaving the city, where would Han Qian go?
Yang Yuanpu felt as if someone had struck him hard with an iron hammer. For a moment his mind went completely blank, and the hand grasping his wine cup couldn’t help trembling.
“Immediately send cavalry to pursue and capture Han Qian—must bring him back to Fanchang, life or death immaterial!” Li Pu suddenly stood up, loudly ordering the guards on duty in the hall. In his urgency, he forgot that at this time only Yang Yuanpu’s and Chen De’s orders could take effect with the palace guards.
Li Pu’s mind was full of the thought that once Han Qian escaped to Langxi and successfully joined with the Left Guangde Army, regardless of whether they could successfully annihilate Han Qian and the rebellious Left Guangde Army, he clearly knew how fatally this would strike the excellent situation of Yueyang forces besieging Jinling—it might even directly lead to the collapse of their plan to besiege Jinling.
The only solution was to send out all cavalry, capturing or killing him on the spot before Han Qian reached Langxi and joined with the Left Guangde Army—even if the Left Guangde Army was destined to rebel, it would still be ten thousand times better than letting Han Qian join with them.
“What did Han Qian say in the letter?” Shen Yang, still somewhat more composed, signaled the guards who had entered the great hall to remain calm, asking Chen De.
Since this letter was meant for His Highness and the present officials, they could wait to understand the letter’s contents before taking action.
No matter how urgent matters were, they wouldn’t lack this bit of time.
Chen De looked inquiringly toward Yang Yuanpu.
Yang Yuanpu’s face was pale and powerless as he waved his hand, indicating Chen De should read aloud the contents of the letter Han Qian left.
Since Han Qian clearly stated this letter was for him and those present, whatever great crisis followed would need everyone together to overcome it. There was really no need to conceal the letter’s contents. Everyone present today was qualified to participate in confidential matters.
As for Ruan Yan and Yin Peng being present at this time—it didn’t matter.
If the letter truly contained secrets unsuitable for outside transmission, at worst they could detain or directly kill them.
“Your Highness, Mr. Shen Yang, and administrators above—this subject Han Qian’s temperament is perverse and arrogant, my conduct often takes deviant paths. That you officials bear no grudges and treat me well—this subject is deeply grateful, will never forget unto death. Here I kowtow in respect. My late father’s heart was entirely loyal. Suffering brutal torture and tragic death, his heart still thought of warfare and chaotic times, worried the common people like ants could not cross the sea of fire. Before execution he left a blood letter showing this subject—besides complete loyalty to Your Highness, this is the root of this subject’s resolute journey to Jinling. Your Highness’s grace of recognition is profound—even shattered bones and crushed flesh cannot repay one or two parts. At this time, it is precisely autumn of chaos—this subject should remain by Your Highness’s side, devoting all strength until death. However, with filial piety for father upon me, this subject absolutely dare not abandon great ritual to discuss marriage. Not wishing Your Highness to be pressured by Chuzhou, this subject can only return to Xuzhou without notice to observe father’s mourning. I beseech Your Highness to forgive this subject’s crime!”
Chen De held up the letter with slightly trembling hands, reading haltingly and stutteringly.
Everyone looked at each other, all thinking—what the hell kind of matter was this?
Han Qian was in mourning for his father. According to ritual, he couldn’t marry. Chuzhou pressed with marriage matters. Not wanting to make His Highness uncomfortable, so he patted his backside and left?
Yet in this age that constantly brought up filial piety to spray people in the face, this was a legitimate, proper reason that feared no criticism when spoken!
Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety are difficult to fulfill together. Han Qian wanted to observe filial piety, so before Yang Yuanpu could order him to accept the marriage, he left Fanchang to avoid falling into a dilemma where loyalty and filial piety couldn’t both be complete. All this seemed beyond reproach—should even be greatly praised for its virtue.
If they were to blame anyone, they could only blame Chuzhou for proposing the marriage, forcing Han Qian to leave, forcing him to leave Fanchang City.
Everything was so dignified and righteous!
Everyone at this moment looked at each other even more. First, not knowing whether to believe Han Qian’s claim in the letter about going to Xuzhou. Second, not knowing whether to send troops out of the city to intercept Han Qian.
The filial piety talk was superficial—everyone wasn’t some three-year-old child.
Previously when Han Qian used filial piety as reason to say he would hand over military authority after the war, everyone determined he was using filial piety to play an advance-by-retreating trick. Could everyone really believe this time he was truly a supremely filial person?
Filial piety most of the time was merely an excuse for those in power. For example, previously Li Pu, Zheng Yu, Han Daoming, Zheng Chang and others supporting the Grand Consort having authority to preside over court decisions—this was done in the name of filial piety.
And filial piety most of the time was also a bargaining chip for those in power to advance or retreat.
For instance, if Yang Yuanpu thought Han Qian should know how to advance and retreat, he would agree to Han Qian returning to Xuzhou in the name of observing mourning. Or if Yang Yuanpu thought Han Qian should remain at his side, he need only override Han Qian’s filial piety in the name of prioritizing state affairs.
Whether Han Qian truly left to observe mourning without marrying, or whether this marriage provided Han Qian with the perfect excuse to leave without notice—those seated were all old foxes. Could they not discern even this much?
At this time, another officer resembling a guard walked into the great hall, approaching Li Pu’s side to whisper.
Li Pu was like another fox whose tail had been burned, his mouth opening in shock, not knowing what to say.
“What’s the matter?” Shen Yang, still relatively composed, asked aloud.
“Gao Chengyuan sent someone to report, saying the Bureau of Military Affairs issued a secret order an hour ago for Yang Qin to lead his forces out of camp. Gao Chengyuan, thinking something seemed not quite right, upon learning of this sent someone to verify!” Li Pu threw the order document in his hand onto the table like a hot potato, saying: “I never issued such an order—this isn’t my signature. It must be Han Qian secretly forging it!”
The great hall fell silent as death. Now the facts were clear. Han Qian’s desire to leave perhaps wasn’t a momentary thought—it was just that Ruan Yan representing Chuzhou came to discuss peace negotiations and raised the marriage with Wang Jun, providing him with a perfect excuse.
“Someone!” Yang Yuanpu’s face flushed bright red, veins bulging on his forehead. Slapping the long table, he was about to summon someone in to order troops sent in pursuit.
“Your Highness, Han Qian returning to Xuzhou to observe mourning for his father—this has no ritual deficiency. Your Highness should fulfill his will,” Shen Yang said. Seeing Yang Yuanpu exasperated like a willful child who’d lost all his candy, not daring to let him act willfully, making mistake upon mistake in his anger, he hurried to the center of the great hall, kneeling and kowtowing, earnestly advising Yang Yuanpu not to act impulsively.
Han Qian mobilizing Yang Qin’s forces to leave Fanchang with him naturally meant traveling upstream back to Xuzhou—at least currently he showed no intent to join with the Left Guangde Army.
At least Han Qian at this time still showed no intent to destroy their plan to besiege Jinling City. If they viewed this matter calmly and let Han Qian leave, they would discover that besides difficulty swallowing their anger, it would have no substantive impact on the overall situation.
Even if this matter became public, the soldiers below would only deeply feel Han Qian was a supremely filial person. It wouldn’t cause much negative impact on military morale or subsequent siege of Jinling.
This could even be said to be Han Qian’s greatest compromise to Yang Yuanpu.
Otherwise, Han Qian could completely make the situation more chaotic, yet he could still leisurely return to Xuzhou at ease.
No matter how much Yang Yuanpu inwardly resented Han Qian, at this time he at least had to outwardly praise his will.
This was the political rule.
Not to mention Yang Yuanpu hadn’t yet ascended the throne—even after becoming the supreme sovereign, the Great Chu Emperor, if he wanted officials to submit and the realm to return to his heart, these rules must be observed.
Otherwise, if the Three Bonds and Five Constants were all in chaos, what excuse would the imperial throne have to demand subjects and people offer their loyalty?
“Your Highness, Han Qian returning to Xuzhou to observe mourning for his father—this has no ritual deficiency!” Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Yang Zhitang, Zhang Ping, even Jiang Huo and others all came to their senses, kneeling together before the hall urging Yang Yuanpu to quell his anger, not to ruin great matters over momentary anger.
Zhang Chao tugged Li Pu’s sleeve. No matter how much unwillingness Li Pu felt in his heart, he could only follow everyone kneeling before the hall, urging Yang Yuanpu to let Han Qian return to Xuzhou.
No matter what, their current primary objective was still capturing Jinling City. Once they completely controlled Jiangnan East Circuit, Jiangnan West Circuit, controlled Huaixi and Jingxiang—dealing with Xuzhou then would just be a matter of finding an excuse, wouldn’t it?
Yang Yuanpu looked at the hall filled with kneeling figures. Even Chen De and Yang Fan, serving as chief and deputy commanders of palace guards, knelt before the hall showing their position. In his heart he clearly knew that with so many opposing him, even if he insisted on pursuing and killing Han Qian, no one would execute his order.
Yet that resentment growing wild like summer grass, like poisonous snakes gnawing at his heart, couldn’t be suppressed no matter what. He resentfully turned away from everyone, like a young wounded lone wolf standing on desolate grassland…