“The assassin was extraordinarily brave and extremely familiar with Shangjia Fort’s terrain. After killing and wounding ten Shang household soldiers, he still escaped with ease. Such a valiant general would be an outstanding person even in the army. I hear his build particularly resembled someone beside the Marquis of Qianyang—having investigated this far, the Jinyun Bureau and Ministry of Justice didn’t dare dig any deeper. But who would have thought that just as the Jinyun Bureau and Ministry of Justice’s forces withdrew, over ten Shang household soldiers secretly colluding with the assassin, seeing their tracks exposed, struck preemptively and killed Shang Wensheng who had barely escaped one calamity. They’re said to have already fled to Guangde Prefecture…”
In Changxin Palace, Master Yun Pu sat on an embroidered stool with his hands tucked in, informing Princess Qingyang of the latest developments in the capital.
“However foolish the Marquis of Qianyang might be, he couldn’t possibly directly dispatch an assassin to kill Shang Wensheng, could he? I think it’s more likely someone is deliberately muddying the waters.” Qingyang said languidly, looking toward the window. Her pregnancy was now showing. In the increasingly hot summer weather, wearing loose robes, she appeared much more plump compared to before.
It wasn’t that she trusted Han Qian’s character, but she felt that if Han Qian really wanted to send someone to assassinate Shang Wensheng, he should have been more covert. How could he leave so many traces for people to so easily point their spears at Xuzhou?
“This old Daoist also doesn’t believe the Marquis of Qianyang does things so crudely, but now these rumors circulating behind the scenes are so miraculous that one can’t help but believe them.” Master Yun Pu said.
“What do the memorials from the Jinyun Bureau and Ministry of Justice say?” Qingyang asked.
“After the Jinyun Bureau withdrew from this case, there’s been no movement, as if the matter has nothing to do with them at all. But in the memorials formally submitted to His Majesty’s desk by the Ministry of Justice and Lishui County, neither mentioned the point that the assassin’s build resembled a trusted follower of the Marquis of Qianyang. Probably before catching the assassin, just based on build and familiarity with the terrain, concluding it was someone beside the Marquis of Qianyang would be too rash and irresponsible.” Master Yun Pu said.
“Isn’t the Jinyun Bureau sharpening their blades, eager to achieve merit? If this matter truly involves the Marquis of Qianyang and Xuzhou, why have they shrunk to the back?” Qingyang asked in puzzlement.
“Perhaps His Majesty, like Your Highness, knows that if the Marquis of Qianyang really wanted to assassinate Shang Wensheng, he wouldn’t do the job so crudely. If the Jinyun Bureau really investigated thoroughly, they would discover the matter ultimately has no connection to the Marquis of Qianyang.”
Seeing no palace maids standing nearby, Master Yun Pu spoke somewhat more freely, saying:
“Now that the Jinyun Bureau has withdrawn, and neither the Ministry of Justice nor Lishui County in their memorials directly pointed their spears at the Marquis of Qianyang, His Majesty can pretend not to know anything. As for how the aristocratic families spread rumors privately and what kind of public fury against the Marquis of Qianyang they stir up—that’s a matter between the aristocratic families and the Marquis of Qianyang. His Majesty can instead stay out of it. Moreover, when His Majesty was previously in Yueyang and now after recovering Jinling and ascending to the throne, to govern prefectures and counties and manage military and political affairs, he had no choice but to extensively employ children of aristocratic families. The court is full of officials from aristocratic backgrounds. His Majesty probably understands this is actually also an obstruction—now finally there’s a target that can make all the court’s princes and great ministers shift their attention. Why wouldn’t His Majesty be happy about it? Of course, His Majesty’s lack of trust in the Marquis of Qianyang is also a factor.”
“True. These aristocratic clans—they have family but no country in their eyes. Every few days memorials are submitted saying the Jinyun Bureau doesn’t conform to the late emperor’s system, complaining that officials are too harsh in extracting money and grain from prefectures and counties, that localities can’t bear the heavy burden and need to recuperate. They complain that garrison military offices occupy provincial lands. His Majesty is annoyed to no end, but to maintain the court’s operation, he has no choice but to use these people. Prime Minister Shen finally promoted some people from below, yet they’re constantly watched by the Censorate for this not conforming to regulations, that not conforming to regulations. Although Cishou Palace doesn’t directly interfere in government affairs now, whenever His Majesty goes to pay respects, they always nag about following the late emperor’s system, treating generals well, accepting good advice—it’s hard to imagine Cishou Palace isn’t coordinating from within with those people in the court,” Qingyang said. “According to what you’re saying, His Majesty now knows to use force against force. He’s truly become much cleverer than before!”
“This is called transferring contradictions.” Master Yun Pu said with a laugh.
Qingyang was slightly stunned, pondering this term Master Yun Pu had spoken for a while. After a moment, she asked again: “By the way, did the Shang family’s rebellious slaves really all flee to Guangde Prefecture? Where might the assassin have fled to? The official communications don’t mention it?”
“Who can say for certain? The rebellious slaves may not necessarily have fled to Guangde Prefecture. Perhaps someone purely thinks the matter isn’t big enough?” Master Yun Pu also speculated with some doubt. “The assassin is alone. If he really burrows into the deep mountain forests, he’s very difficult to catch, and it’s hard to definitely say where he’s hiding. The Ministry of Justice or local prefectures and counties have no way to make a big fuss over a solitary assassin. However, escaped slaves dragging their families, over a hundred people—that’s different, especially since they’re colluding with the assassin…”
“Who would be so foolish?” Qingyang asked curiously.
“There’s nothing foolish or not foolish about it. The Marquis of Qianyang and his father Han Daoxun governed Xuzhou early on implementing new systems, which already made the aristocratic families quite vigilant. After the Marquis of Qianyang came to Jinling and conscripted slaves into the army, rewarding them with fields and houses, he practically tricked away all the household slaves of Jinling’s counties. Isn’t that enough to be hated?” Master Yun Pu said. “Setting aside the officials of the Ministry of Justice, the local official handling this case, Lishui County Magistrate Wei Zhen, although he once could be counted as a staff officer of the Guangde Administration Bureau, and his Wei family in the court could also be considered dragon-following meritorious officials—Wei Zhen, being a person from an aristocratic family, if he has even a bit of fellow feeling about the hare dying and the fox grieving, he absolutely won’t have half a favorable impression of the Marquis of Qianyang, and will also find the existence of Guangde Prefecture quite an eyesore. If he feels some empathy for the tragic deaths of the Shang father and son, he could completely do some manipulations. Looking carefully at the memorial submitted by Lishui County, there are indeed some minor details that don’t quite match up.”
Qingyang thought that what Master Yun Pu did all day was study people. Combined with the fact that thirty years ago he had served as Supervisory Commissioner for the Shengzhou Military Commissioner’s Office and was extremely familiar with the aristocratic families of Jinling’s counties, she believed his judgment wouldn’t be too far off.
She stood up gracefully and said: “Previously, the court ministers and His Majesty all hoped Shang Wensheng could stir up some waves in Guangde Prefecture. Unexpectedly, now that Shang Wensheng is dead, there’s still wind desperately blowing toward Guangde Prefecture—indeed, without so many people fanning flames behind the scenes, determined to make the matter bigger, how could the whereabouts of over a hundred people, most of them old, weak, women and children, remain unclear? For those who want to make trouble, if there are no conditions, they’ll probably create conditions to make them flee to Guangde Prefecture, right?”
“Your Highness truly has discerning eyes.” Master Yun Pu praised.
Qingyang then turned around and looked at Master Yun Pu, asking: “By the way, Master Yun, what do you think we can do for Xuzhou?”
“Ah?” Master Yun Pu looked at Princess Qingyang somewhat shocked, not knowing what she meant by this.
“In the past when I was in Yueyang, I always felt the situation didn’t change that quickly. At the time I just thought gaining His Majesty’s favor was most important. How could I imagine that the situation would change as swiftly as wind sweeping away clouds, making it so overwhelming?” Qingyang said calmly. “Perhaps as Master Yun said, knowing a few more noble people always has benefits.”
“This, this—let this old Daoist go back and think it over carefully?” Master Yun Pu stammered back, seemingly somewhat startled by Princess Qingyang’s transformation. In his heart, however, he thought about others’ analysis and judgment of the relationship between Princess Qingyang and Yang Yuanpu, and only now secretly sighed in admiration.
In the past in Yueyang, Yang Yuanpu and Princess Qingyang could get along very harmoniously and intimately. On one hand, Yang Yuanpu saw the Chuzhou Army’s unlimited glory and felt insignificant himself. Combined with having to cut himself off from his heart from his previous over-reliance on Han Qian, his heart needed a new dependency for substitute compensation in the short term. On the other hand, among the three women beside Yang Yuanpu, Dowager Consort Wang Chan’er and Primary Consort Li Yao were both people he rejected even more deeply in his heart. Only Princess Qingyang could be close to him.
Moreover, beautiful and intelligent women always have many lovely, alluring qualities.
However, Yang Yuanpu was skilled in schemes and stratagems. His boyhood and childhood were spent struggling under the dual shadows of Anning Palace and Wanhong Tower. No matter how charming and beautiful Princess Qingyang was, from deep in his heart he would never particularly accept a woman equally skilled in schemes and stratagems.
This point would manifest and magnify after Yang Yuanpu recovered Jinling and ascended the throne.
And if Princess Qingyang could recognize this clearly and could be less willful, her attitude would necessarily undergo major changes.
Of course, Master Yun Pu hadn’t expected that Princess Qingyang, not satisfied with befriending Li Zhigao, a general-level external minister through himself, would actually think about re-establishing relations with Xuzhou?
Watching Qingyang stand by the window, her hands folded in front of her, seemingly slightly supporting her gradually swelling belly, Master Yun Pu could vaguely guess why Princess Qingyang had this transformation. Perhaps she hoped the child in her belly was a boy, and this boy could become another Yang Yuanpu?
Qingyang didn’t know what Master Yun Pu was thinking in his heart. She asked again: “Li Zhigao wants to lead troops across the river to suppress Shouzhou. I’ve done what I should do, but surely he won’t place all his hopes on a mere woman like me—what rumors are there about this matter outside now?”
“This old Daoist heard that Lord Du’s son has recently been quite close to people from the Empress Dowager’s side…” Master Yun Pu said.
“If that’s truly the case, then Lord Du returning to Jinling early to assume the position of Minister of War would be a happy outcome for everyone, wouldn’t it?” Qingyang asked with some doubt. But after all, she wasn’t familiar with this person Du Chongtao, and for the moment couldn’t figure out what calculations by various people were hidden behind this matter.
……
……
The weather was scorching hot, the blazing sun making it hard for people to breathe.
Over a hundred fierce swordsmen reined in their horses, stopping before Meizhu Creek, gazing at the boundless wheat fields on the southern shore.
The swordsmen had complete arms and armor. Traveling in such hot weather, they wore nothing under their leather armor, exposing thick, scarred, muscular arms. War sabers hung at their waists, war bows suspended on the left side of their saddles, and two to three quivers suspended on the right side, filled with feathered arrows rising above the saddles.
The warhorses that had just finished a long gallop had sweat streaming from their hides. They were now lowering their heads to drink deeply from the river at their feet.
Meizhu Creek was the boundary river between Liyang County of Runzhou and Langxi County of Guangde Prefecture. This section of the river was shallow—through the clear water one could see pebbles piled on the riverbed. No ferry was needed; one could drive horses through the water to enter Guangde Prefecture’s territory.
However, at this moment a middle-aged official with seven or eight bailiffs was guarding the southern shore of Meizhu Creek, calling out:
“Lord Shang, have you thought this through clearly? What are the consequences of unauthorized leading county troops across the provincial boundary?”
“Lord Qin, Chief Clerk Zhou hasn’t said a word. As Guangde Prefecture’s Administrator, I’m leading troops into Guangde Prefecture to capture escaped bandits. Perhaps it’s not Lord Qin’s place to obstruct me?” Shang Mengtong wore leather armor over his official robe, looking somewhat incongruous. His sinister gaze fixed on Guangde Prefecture Administrator Qin Wen on the southern shore.
Although Shang Mengtong served as Liyang County Magistrate as a civil official, he had been trained from childhood as the Shang family head, studied law and military affairs, and was also skilled in riding and archery.
During the chaos of the river crossing, when fleeing south from Anning Palace’s control, Shang Mengtong had his cheek cut by a spear while killing rebel soldiers, leaving a scar that now added several degrees of fierce momentum to his appearance.
Qin Wen stood on the southern shore’s beach, not yielding an inch, declaring loudly: “If you have Chief Clerk Zhou’s collaborative document, I, Qin Wen, have no reason to stop you today. But you don’t have Chief Clerk Zhou’s written communication. Unless you step over my corpse Qin Wen today to cross the river—otherwise, with the magistracy vacant, as Guangde Prefecture’s Administrator also bearing the duty of defending the territory, I absolutely will not sit by and watch armed forces of unclear origin carrying large numbers of powerful crossbows and bows with armor and equipment enter Guangde Prefecture!”
With Shang Wensheng dead, before the court dispatched a new magistrate, Guangde Prefecture’s military and political affairs were jointly managed by Administrator Qin Wen and Chief Clerk Zhou An.
This Zhou An was the cousin of former Langxi County Magistrate Zhou Yuanhe. As a member of Xuanzhou’s Ningguo Zhou clan, he had served under Gu Zhilong during the Jinling incident. As one of the first aristocratic family members to join Emperor Yanyou, after the war Zhou Yuanhe was appointed Prefect of Shezhou, while Zhou An was appointed Guangde Prefecture’s Chief Clerk and Military Commissioner. The Zhou clan had also become prominent.
Although officials of the prefectural office and the three counties of Langxi, Guangde, and Anji were mainly selected from talented individuals among the aristocratic families of prefectures like Xuan, She, Hu, and Xiu, and these people were led primarily by Chief Clerk Zhou An and Langxi County Magistrate Fu Gengwen, in the past when Shen Yang served as Acting Magistrate of Guangde, Zhou An and Fu Gengwen had been very obedient and didn’t dare make any small moves.
After Shen Yang was transferred to the central government to oversee the Government Affairs Hall, and Shang Wensheng was assassinated just days after assuming the magistracy, naturally Zhou An and Fu Gengwen wouldn’t be so obedient. In just a few days they had openly and covertly won over other officials, isolating Qin Wen.
However, no matter how arrogant and audacious Zhou An and Fu Gengwen were, they didn’t dare directly issue collaborative documents allowing Shang Mengtong to openly lead Liyang County troops into Guangde Prefecture to make trouble.
Otherwise, who knew if Qin Wen would directly take such evidence to the capital to find Shen Yang?
Shang Mengtong’s sinister gaze fixed on Qin Wen. Seeing Qin Wen’s firm attitude, he could only lead his troops resentfully along Meizhu Creek westward, heading first to the southern border of Lishui County.
It wasn’t that Shang Mengtong didn’t have the hatred in his chest to ride across and kill Qin Wen, but the problem was that the hundred-plus cavalry behind him were merely recruited in the name of county bowmen and bailiffs with the tacit approval of Runzhou’s prefectural office and Liyang County above and below.
These men came for the substantial recruitment funds Shang Mengtong offered, but after all, they weren’t river and lake bandits.
They were people with roots. As county troops, they could participate in public security and defense within Liyang County’s territory, could also follow orders to enter other prefectures and counties to pursue fugitives, and could even fight bandits without fear of sacrifice for heavy rewards.
However, if Shang Mengtong ordered them to kill a court official, that would be a joke.
They might capture Shang Mengtong instead and await orders from Guangde Prefecture Administrator Qin Wen across the river—that would be more reliable!
Watching Shang Mengtong leave with his people, the worried expression on Qin Wen’s face didn’t diminish in the slightest. Having drifted through the sea of officialdom for half a lifetime, he could tell that Shang Mengtong’s departure was merely the oppressive calm before the mountain rain and building wind.
“The Prime Minister recommended Lord Xue to serve as Acting Magistrate of Guangde Prefecture. Perhaps when Lord Xue arrives, we can catch our breath.” An old house servant, seeing Qin Wen’s brow furrowed like mountain ranges, consoled him.
“Let’s hope so.” Qin Wen said, but couldn’t help sighing.
……
……
In the study hall of the Han residence’s rear quarters, Han Wenhuan and Fu Mo sat around a table. The chess pieces on the board hadn’t moved in quite a while, and two cups of excellent Fangshan dew bud tea had sat there untouched for just as long.
“You and I have known each other for decades. The Fu and Han clans have coexisted in Xuanzhou for several generations. In early years we both struggled from humble beginnings. Having what we have today wasn’t easy. Fu Gong, won’t you really think about it—when this fire truly ignites and slightly loses control, your Gengwen in Langxi will be the first chess piece either burned to ashes by the fire or thrown out to appease public anger!” Han Wenhuan drank a mouthful of the completely cooled dew bud tea. His cloudy old eyes looked at Fu Mo’s wrinkled old face, saying with sincere concern.
“What if this fire can’t ignite?”
Fu Mo first stared at the chess piece in his hand, asking back in a hoarse voice. Then he raised his head to glance at Han Wenhuan and continued speaking:
“Rebellious slaves rebelling, colluding with an assassin, causing the tragic deaths of Shang Wensheng’s household of master and servants—sixteen people. Han Gong, do you know how many people this has filled with righteous indignation? Could Han Gong really think that I, a seventy-year-old man, writing one letter to Gengwen would have the ability to make everything calm? My Fu family is ultimately different from your Han family. At this time, where is there room for choice? At most I can only stand by with folded hands, not adding fuel to the flames. This matter has too many people secretly fanning the flames. That’s also because the Marquis of Qianyang acted too recklessly in the past, leading to today’s situation, making Guangde Prefecture like a fishbone stuck in too many people’s throats—Prime Minister Shen recommending Xue Ruogu to serve as Acting Magistrate of Guangde Prefecture is also intended to smooth things over, but never mind His Majesty’s doubts—look at how many memorials impeaching Xue Ruogu have been submitted to the imperial desk these past few days?”
“…” Seeing that even someone as experienced as Fu Mo was extremely displeased with Guangde Prefecture’s existence, Han Wenhuan sighed softly in a weak voice.
“If the Marquis of Qianyang hasn’t done anything underhanded in Guangde Prefecture, it shouldn’t stir up any waves. But if the Marquis of Qianyang has done something underhanded, this matter truly isn’t something Han Gong and I can prevent—His Majesty, Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu and the other lords are perhaps also waiting for a result before they can feel at ease using military force against Shouzhou!” Fu Mo in turn consoled Han Wenhuan, saying: “His Majesty is clear in his heart that the Han family has split into two branches. It might be better for Han Gong to observe quietly. As for the Marquis of Qianyang being a thousand miles away, there’s no need for Han Gong to worry on his behalf…”
Han Wenhuan smiled bitterly in his heart, finally understanding what “men of insight” like Fu Mo were worrying and fearing in their hearts…