Guo Duoduo, Vice Minister of Rites of the Liang state, arrived in Jinling on October 16th carrying Emperor Zhu Yu’s state letter to discuss the conclusion of a peace treaty.
Under the accompaniment of officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, Guo Duoduo took up residence in the Duting Courier Station, which served as the equivalent of a state guesthouse.
The Department of State Affairs and Chongwen Hall were separated by only a palace gate. Shen Yang, bringing Zhang Qian with him, passed through the palace gate and walked toward Chongwen Hall. The north wind blew in, swirling the fallen leaves between the high palace walls and sending them spinning along the paved walkway.
Zhang Qian wore only a thin padded jacket under his official robe. He hadn’t expected this cold front to arrive so suddenly. That afternoon in the chilly government office he had been frozen quite thoroughly. Now walking out and being blown by the cold wind, he couldn’t help but shiver continuously, clasping his hands together as he walked toward Chongwen Hall.
“Crack!” As they reached the hall’s eaves, Zhang Qian clearly heard the crisp sound of an inkstone or similar object shattering on the polished stone floor deep within the hall. Immediately afterward, he heard Emperor Yanyou’s exasperated shriek:
“Since Tangyi has already negotiated everything, the Liang army has been allowed to pass through their territory, and they’ve pocketed all the benefits Zhu Yu promised them, then just let them continue performing this charade with the Liang envoys! Why must they drag me out to be some damned puppet? You’re all as timid as mice—why hasn’t anyone run over there to ask him whether he’s a subject of Great Chu or a subject of Liang state!”
Zhang Qian hesitantly looked back at Shen Yang, but Shen Yang pretended not to have heard.
“Prime Minister Shen has arrived,” Chen Ruyi, guarding inside the hall doors, called out loudly upon seeing Shen Yang and Zhang Qian approaching.
Zhang Qian followed Shen Yang into the hall and saw Emperor Yanyou sitting behind the imperial desk with a dark expression. Several young eunuchs in blue robes were frantically clearing away the shattered inkstone, brush stand, paperweights and other objects in front of the imperial desk.
Shen Yang acted as if he saw nothing, walked to the imperial desk and bowed: “Shen Yang pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Grant Prime Minister Shen a seat,” Yang Yuanpu ordered stiffly.
Just as Shen Yang sat down and was about to report on the meeting between Court of State Ceremonial officials and Liang envoy Guo Duoduo, he saw Chen Ruyi slink over furtively again saying: “The Empress Dowager and Palace Attendant Lu have arrived.”
Yang Yuanpu was still angry and remained motionless behind the imperial desk. Shen Yang, along with Zhang Qian and Chen Ruyi, walked out of the hall to welcome the Empress Dowager, Lu Qingxia and others.
“Why doesn’t Prime Minister Shen invite Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou to Chongwen Hall to ask them exactly what they’ve negotiated with Liang state, and what else they need us to cooperate with to perform this play well?” Empress Dowager Wang Chan’er asked coldly, looking at Shen Yang.
“If the Empress Dowager wishes to summon Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou for consultation, they are currently at the Department of State Affairs. It wouldn’t be troublesome to send someone to fetch them,” Shen Yang replied.
“…” Wang Chan’er hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand for the attendant eunuch behind her to run to the Department of State Affairs outside the palace gate and call both Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou to Chongwen Hall.
The two places were separated by only a palace gate. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou were announced and entered Chongwen Hall, paying respects to Emperor Yanyou and the Empress Dowager.
Yang Yuanpu’s anger had not subsided. It was Jiang Huo, who was serving in the hall, who gave a look and had young eunuchs bring over two brocade cushions so Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou could sit while speaking—after all, regardless of anything else, Han Daoming’s daughter Han Shuhui was an imperial consort in the palace, so it would be completely unreasonable for everyone else to be seated while making Han Daoming stand to answer questions.
Yang Yuanpu and Wang Chan’er managed to restrain themselves from angrily denouncing Tangyi’s collusion with the enemy state. They also turned a blind eye to Jiang Huo’s unauthorized provision of seats to Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou. After all, it wasn’t yet time to tear off all pretenses. However, the resentment in their hearts was hard to dispel. Upon seeing Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou, they said nothing and asked no questions, making the atmosphere in the hall extremely oppressive for a time.
“I wonder why Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager have summoned us—what are your instructions?” After waiting for quite a while, Han Daoming finally spoke up to ask.
Seeing that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager both sat with dark expressions saying nothing, Shen Yang lowered his eyes to look at his newly replaced official boots. Zhang Qian didn’t even dare settle his buttocks properly on his seat, much less dare to interject casually in this kind of situation.
Among the eunuchs serving in the hall, aside from Jiang Huo and Chen Ruyi who seemed relatively at ease, the others were all extremely anxious, fearing that if something went wrong today, they would become targets for displaced anger.
In the end, it was Lu Qingxia, who had been granted a seat below Shen Yang, who slowly broke the silence, saying: “His Majesty and the Empress Dowager summoned Minister Han and Vice Minister Chen here to ask exactly how much you know about the Liang army borrowing passage through Tangyi’s territory.”
“Is Palace Attendant Lu asking about Liang envoy Guo Duoduo traveling by boat all the way from the Northern Fei River to Jinling?” Han Daoming asked, feigning confusion. “The Liang envoy borrowed passage to enter court and pay respects to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, seeking friendly relations between our two states. Tangyi also dispatched troops to escort him according to court regulations. What’s improper about this matter…”
Yao Xishui hadn’t expected that here in Chongwen Hall, this old fox Han Daoming would be even more cunning than his father Han Wenhuan, daring to blatantly lie and equivocate at this moment. Her almond-shaped eyes filled with angry resentment as she questioned him sharply with her quick tongue:
“Minister Han truly knows how to play the fool! Tangyi colluded with the enemy Liang state—not only did six thousand Liang soldiers pass through Tangyi heading to Caizhou, but Tangyi even secretly escorted Emperor Zhu Yu back to Hehuai. Do you really think you did this seamlessly without heaven or earth knowing?”
“So Weaving Bureau Director Yao wants to ask about this? But regarding the matter of Liang forces borrowing passage, didn’t Marquis Xinjin previously report this to the Empress Dowager and Weaving Bureau Director Yao?” Han Daoming asked with puzzlement. “The Weaving Bureau has authority to investigate prefectures and counties, the Military Geography Bureau has authority to investigate border military intelligence. If Marquis Xinjin didn’t report it, are you saying the Weaving Bureau and Military Geography Bureau detected absolutely nothing about six thousand Liang elite troops passing through Nanyang heading to Caizhou? How can you blame this on Tangyi?”
Before Yao Xishui could open her mouth to refute, Han Daoming continued, turning to Yang Yuanpu:
“Reporting to Your Majesty: In the seventh month, Tangyi scouts discovered signs of concentrated troop movements from Fangcheng toward southern Caizhou. However, at that time Xiangbei maintained extremely strict outer defenses, and Tangyi scouts couldn’t get close enough to gather more intelligence. At the time, we thought Xiangbei intended to take advantage of the chaos in Hehuai to dispatch troops to seize the two prefectures of Cai and Ru. Han Qian even communicated with this humble minister and Vice Minister Chen multiple times about this matter, wanting to advise Xiangbei not to be greedy after newly acquiring Liangzhou. At the time, we never suspected it was secretly assisting Guanzhong Liang forces in passing through to Caizhou.”
“Minister Han, you speak nonsense and slander Marquis Xinjin! Do you truly think His Majesty is a three-year-old child easily deceived?” Yao Xishui laughed bitterly from extreme anger, not expecting Han Daoming to dare point at a deer and call it a horse, to lie so blatantly before Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang.
“Weaving Bureau Director Yao is too agitated. This humble minister is somewhat simple-minded, so I just want to ask one question: on what basis does Weaving Bureau Director Yao conclude that Marquis Xinjin hasn’t deceived the Empress Dowager and His Majesty? Could it be that the Weaving Bureau has solid evidence that Liang forces passed through Tangyi rather than through Xiangbei?” Han Daoming asked. “Weaving Bureau Director Yao should also know that Han Qian doesn’t tell me, his uncle, everything. If Weaving Bureau Director Yao truly has evidence in hand, please let me know whether I’ve been deceived or not…”
Yao Xishui was left speechless, momentarily stumped by Han Daoming’s questioning.
At this moment, Lu Qingxia also looked toward Han Daoming with a sharp gaze.
Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang both hesitantly looked toward Yao Xishui and Lu Qingxia.
Zhang Qian also became confused. Previously they had been completely convinced that Han Qian must have colluded with Liang forces, but hearing Han Daoming’s explanation, it seemed there might also be a possibility that Li Zhigao had colluded with Liang forces. After all, Liang forces passing through Nanyang territory would be more convenient and better able to avoid detection.
Not to mention that in this age, fathers and sons and brothers killing each other for power was no longer shocking secret news. Even if Li Zhigao and others belonged to the same Former Dynasty Divine Mausoleum Bureau lineage as the Evening Crimson Tower, it didn’t mean Li Zhigao absolutely couldn’t have concealed things from Yao Xishui and Lu Qingxia to secretly trade with Liang state for personal power.
One must say, His Majesty himself and Chen Ruyi, the Chongwen Hall Inner Attendant serving behind him, weren’t they also considered part of the Divine Mausoleum Bureau lineage? When had their interests ever been completely aligned with Lu Qingxia and Yao Xishui’s? Didn’t His Majesty and the Empress Dowager constantly have disagreements?
Furthermore, counting from the rise of the Marquis of Linjiang’s mansion, hadn’t Li Zhigao’s relationships with many people present also undergone changes? Each time Li Zhigao chose transformations that were almost pragmatically most beneficial to himself.
If Li Zhigao wanted to resist the counterattacks of Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaogao on the Liang front, wanted to properly digest Liangzhou, and even harbored ambitions to plot against Shu, he also had motives to collude with Liang forces.
After all, with Mongols now occupying Jin territory with extremely fierce military force, if he were Li Zhigao, even having occupied Liangzhou he wouldn’t rush to insert himself into Guanzhong. Secretly allying with Liang forces would undoubtedly better serve Xiangbei’s interests.
Yao Xishui’s powdered face flushed bright red. Only now did she more deeply understand what it meant to be unable to defend oneself against a hundred accusations.
Of course she couldn’t acknowledge that most hidden layer of relationship. But at this moment, saying the Weaving Bureau and Military Geography Bureau had tighter connections with Xiangbei and could monitor Xiangbei’s movements at all times, confirming Liang forces absolutely couldn’t have passed through Xiangbei, was also inappropriate.
Xiangbei Army’s extremely close collusion and connections with them was already a great hatred in Yang Yuanpu’s heart. If she acknowledged this point now, not only would it fail to clear anything up, but it might very likely result in Han Daoming turning the tables on them again, framing them as already implicated in the Liang forces’ border passage.
“I truly didn’t expect Minister Han’s arguments to be so sharp,” Lu Qingxia said. “This time Liang state is offering the three cities of Shouchun, Fengtai, and Huoqiu for peace negotiations, but these three cities have now all been seized by Tangyi. Doesn’t this prove Tangyi has long been secretly colluding with Liang state?”
“Of course not,” Han Daoming said loudly. “Before summer began, Han Qian had already formulated detailed combat plans to mobilize one hundred thousand troops in autumn to recover the three cities of Huoqiu, Shouchun, and Fengtai. Not to mention Hehuai is in complete chaos—even if Hehuai weren’t chaotic, Huoqiu, Shouchun, and Fengtai have long been objects in Great Chu’s pocket. Liang state at this time has certainly recognized this point. Yielding these three cities is merely doing a favor with the current. This humble minister truly cannot imagine why Han Qian would need to bear the name of colluding with the enemy to exchange for these three cities. Or does Palace Attendant Lu think these three cities are really some remarkable bargaining chip?”
“…” Seeing that Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou had come prepared, Lu Qingxia found it difficult to gain any advantage in verbal sparring and stopped speaking.
Han Daoming continued: “Even if the situation truly necessitates temporarily easing relations with Liang forces, as long as time permits, Han Qian would certainly first petition the court.”
“…” Hearing this, even Shen Yang couldn’t help but cough.
However, how could Han Daoming, having climbed to this position, possibly blush from speaking nonsense? He bowed to Yang Yuanpu saying: “I request Your Majesty’s clear judgment.”
“Tangyi can mobilize one hundred thousand troops—how truly imposing!” Yao Xishui couldn’t help but laugh coldly in mockery.
“The same words—this humble minister only wants to explain that Great Chu has strong troops and spirited horses, with absolutely no need to bow and scrape to get back the three cities of Shouchun, Fengtai, and Huoqiu. Yet I didn’t expect that coming from Weaving Bureau Director Yao’s mouth, it would make this humble minister seem to have sinister intentions. This is probably what they call ‘the fearfulness of human speech.'”
Han Daoming sighed deeply and spoke with feeling.
“This humble minister has also long heard widespread rumors in court and countryside that before Marquis Changxiang’s usurpation he had secret collusion with Tangyi. But what are the facts? After assisting Marquis Changxiang’s successful Shu usurpation, Marquis Xinjin obtained Liangzhou and the former Jinzhou, Xiazhou was also incorporated into the Hunan Provincial Department of State Affairs—what did Tangyi obtain? Han Qian knew clearly that participating in this matter brought no benefits, yet upon learning that Marquis Linjin in Canglang City was determined to lead various forces into Liangzhou, he still immediately dispatched people to persuade Tan Yuliang to lead troops to aid Shu. Furthermore, when Shu state couldn’t produce the two hundred thousand strings annual tribute, it was also Han Qian’s soft heart, thinking that Shu state would also be Great Chu’s vassal state in the future and should be more understanding of Shu state’s difficulties. He finally agreed to accept a small piece of barren land in southern Yu, and besides paying this annual tribute on Shu state’s behalf every year, additionally squeezed out three hundred thousand strings from the Official Money Bureau to loan to Shu state to help stabilize Shu state’s tense and volatile situation as quickly as possible. Han Qian is willing to do these things—ultimately it relies on his unwavering loyalty to Great Chu. This humble minister believes that if we continue to indulge court and countryside in spreading malicious rumors and chill loyal hearts, it truly is not a blessing for the state!”
Yao Xishui hadn’t expected Han Daoming to invert right and wrong to such an extent, truly speaking lies with eyes wide open. Yet each of Han Daoming’s statements was irrefutable.
Taking just the matter of assisting Marquis Changxiang’s Shu usurpation—on the surface Tangyi’s gains appeared smallest. Even as they spread news saying Han Qian had long secretly colluded with Marquis Changxiang, under Han Daoming and others’ guidance, some questioning voices gradually emerged in court and countryside.
She just hadn’t expected that at this moment, Han Daoming would further muddy the waters before Yang Yuanpu’s eyes.
“Minister Han’s words—you’ll have to ask whether Prime Minister Shen believes them,” Yao Xishui said with a cold laugh.
She knew Yang Yuanpu was deeply wary of them but would tend to trust Shen Yang’s opinions.
Seeing the two factions arguing and now kicking the ball to his side, Shen Yang bitterly swallowed and said: “The Mongols’ military force is indeed somewhat beyond previous expectations. At this time making peace with Liang state, enabling Liang forces to concentrate strength on opening communications through Heluoyang and Hangu Pass to Guanzhong, and checking the Mongols’ military advance from the north, also benefits Great Chu. Your Majesty should quickly make a decision.”
Seeing Shen Yang still maintain an attitude of smoothing things over and shelving disputes, Yao Xishui huffily closed her mouth.
“Very well. The matter of peace negotiations with the Liang envoy will be fully handled by the Department of State Affairs. Quickly produce a memorial for further discussion. Mother Empress should also be tired. I’ll trouble Palace Attendant Lu and Weaving Bureau Director Yao to escort her. Your son won’t see Mother Empress back to Cishou Palace,” Yang Yuanpu said. Like a trapped beast confined in a cage, not knowing whom he could trust at this moment, he could only wearily dismiss everyone else.
After Empress Dowager Wang Chan’er, Lu Qingxia and others departed, Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou also took their leave.
Shen Yang stood up but didn’t leave. Instead he spoke to Jiang Huo and Chen Ruyi who were serving in the hall: “I must ask Lord Jiang and Lord Chen to temporarily withdraw.”
Jiang Huo and Chen Ruyi looked toward Yang Yuanpu. Although it was irregular for Shen Yang to ask attendant eunuchs to withdraw for a private conversation with Yang Yuanpu, if Yang Yuanpu permitted it, they wouldn’t insist on staying in the hall and inviting displeasure.
Yang Yuanpu waved his hand, indicating Jiang Huo, Chen Ruyi and others should all go outside the hall.
“Rather than futilely speculating what the truth behind the scenes is, what Your Majesty needs more at this time is to discern which people can be trusted and employed,” Shen Yang said. “Regardless of anything else, Your Majesty is Great Chu’s sovereign. Even if some harbor disloyal intentions, the vast majority of Great Chu’s scholars and soldiers place their hopes for fame and profit on Your Majesty. Your Majesty absolutely must not give up on yourself in despair.”
“Prime Minister Shen instructs me,” Yang Yuanpu said.
“Your Majesty’s most urgent task should be to first recall the Left Militant Cavalry Army and Li Changfeng to the capital, ensuring the capital region is secure…” Shen Yang said.
“When Minister Han said Tangyi could mobilize at most one hundred thousand troops in Huaixi—was that not an exaggeration?” Yang Yuanpu asked gravely.
“If necessary, the number should be even greater than that,” Shen Yang said.
Not counting Xuzhou, Huaixi’s five prefectures currently had a population approaching 1.2 million, with 360,000 to 370,000 able-bodied men.
Unlike other prefectures and counties where corvée and military service were considered burdensome duties, in Huaixi able-bodied men competed to enlist.
Han Qian implemented new policies in Huaixi. From the Regional Command to prefectures and counties down to township offices, the organizational control system over the grassroots was extremely tight. Although it couldn’t be sustained for too long, when necessary, if Tangyi drafted one man from every three, mobilizing and assembling 110,000 to 120,000 troops would absolutely not be unimaginable.
Yet the capital region currently had only two Imperial Attendant Guard forces and the Right Dragon Martial Army stationed in Jiangdong, with total forces of only fifty thousand.
Han Qian had successfully shifted Xiangbei’s strategic focus to the western flank. The Tongbai Mountain and Huaiyang Mountain gap in northern Suizhou was garrisoned with only seven to eight thousand elite troops. At the most dire moment, even if Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan stood on the court’s side, in terms of total military strength compared to Tangyi, they no longer held an advantage.
This was also the source of confidence that allowed Han Daoming to speak nonsense so boldly in the hall just now.
Yang Yuanpu remained silent.
Shen Yang continued:
“Besides recalling the Left Militant Cavalry Army, Your Majesty should also take advantage of peace on the western and northern fronts to select a group of young commanders from the Imperial Attendant Guards who have no connections to various factions. Under the leadership of Du Chongtao or Zhou Bingwu, they should move south from the Gan River to clear Qingyuan Army. At the same time, you must ensure the fiscal revenues of Liangjiang and Hunan are all under Your Majesty’s control. Then even if the situation worsens, it won’t deteriorate to that extreme…”
“…” After a long while, Yang Yuanpu asked with puzzlement: “Li Changfeng and Li Xiu have walked so closely with Li Zhigao, Lu Qingxia and the others, and the Empress Dowager also follows their advice implicitly. Can they truly be trusted and employed with confidence?”
Seeing that Li Zhigao’s betrayal remained like a fishbone stuck in Yang Yuanpu’s throat, Shen Yang sighed inwardly. Before the destruction of the Five Fangs Naval Forces, what excellent circumstances they had—how had they deteriorated to this point?
Of course, that Yang Yuanpu didn’t question whether Du Chongtao and Zhou Bingwu could be used or trusted could be considered progress.
Shen Yang organized his thoughts slightly and continued:
“Marquis Jiangyin Huang Lu has a brother-sister-in-law relationship with Your Majesty, and he himself has never harbored great ambitions. Duke Baoguo Huang Hua even more so hopes the Jiangdong situation can stabilize—worthy of Your Majesty’s trust. Although Zhang Xiang didn’t follow Li Yu into seclusion back then, all these years he’s been law-abiding, showing he sees the situation very clearly and ultimately will mostly think of protecting himself wisely. Zhang Feng has nothing requiring special vigilance. Minister Du and Privy Council Commissioner Zhou need even less mention. As for Changguo Duke’s mansion and Li Changfeng’s old acquaintances walking closely with Li Zhigao and the others, it’s mainly because the Second Prince was brought to Cishou Palace to be raised. Fundamentally they place their hopes on the Second Prince, not on Li Zhigao or Lu Qingxia—there’s a distinction here. First, Your Majesty may in the future establish the Second Prince as legitimate heir. Second, if Li Zhigao and Lu Qingxia truly have some shameful ambitions, Li Changfeng and Li Xiu, who are influenced by the Prince, won’t easily follow along. This time when the Right Divine Martial Army remained in Canglang and then killed their way into Liangzhou, that Han Qian could get Li Changfeng and Li Xiu to advance westward together first—he probably saw through this point…”
“Does Prime Minister Shen also believe that Marquis Changxiang’s Shu usurpation was something Han Qian participated in plotting behind the scenes from the start?” Yang Yuanpu asked.
“Whether it is or isn’t, isn’t important,” Shen Yang said. “Han Qian can manage not to take profit and first compete for people’s hearts. Why must Your Majesty pursue whether it is or isn’t?”
Yang Yuanpu pondered this. After a long while he asked again: “When Prime Minister Shen spoke these words, you specifically had Jiang Huo and Chen Ruyi withdraw—does that mean they also cannot be trusted?”
“Whether they can be trusted isn’t important. The key is that people’s hearts change. Your Majesty must also employ more people in the palace and cannot place trust on just two or three people,” Shen Yang said. After speaking these words, he hesitated for quite a while before resolutely saying: “If the Late Emperor truly left any secret edict for Your Majesty, I also hope Your Majesty will destroy it as soon as possible. Shen Yang isn’t saying the Late Emperor did anything wrong—it’s just that after missing the opportunity at Fanchang, Your Majesty should no longer think about the secret edict…”
Yang Yuanpu looked at the dusk outside the great hall with a dark gaze.
Shen Yang quietly observed the bright candles lit early in the great hall, not knowing whether Yang Yuanpu understood the meaning in his words.
Given the current situation, as long as Yang Yuanpu could set aside his suspicions of people, whether Yang En, Du Chongtao, or Zhou Bingwu, all were veteran ministers and generals left behind by Emperor Tianyou who could be employed—and once employed could be called pillars of the state.
The current situation required truly employing them, giving them opportunities to command troops and wield power, enabling their direct subordinates, trusted confidants, nephews and disciples to have opportunities to enter the Imperial Attendant Guards and serve in the Privy Council and Ministry of War, rather than giving them merely the empty titles of Minister of War or Privy Council Commissioner with few usable subordinates.
How could they truly grasp the power of the Privy Council and Ministry of War otherwise?
Especially Zhou Bingwu and Du Chongtao, who had spent half their lives in military campaigns and both had groups of capable direct subordinate commanders they could trust—this could also ensure the combat effectiveness of the troops under their command wouldn’t be too poor.
As long as this was accomplished, Shen Yang believed Great Chu’s situation wouldn’t deteriorate to any terrible extent.
Seeing Yang Yuanpu’s hesitation and uncertainty, Shen Yang’s heart inevitably surged with waves of powerlessness. However, he believed Yang Yuanpu would still recall the Left Militant Cavalry Army to the capital region and wouldn’t allow Han Qian’s schemes to succeed by leaving Li Changfeng, Li Xiu and others in Liangzhou to be thorns in Li Zhigao’s side.
“This humble minister will take his leave now…” Shen Yang bowed slightly and withdrew from Chongwen Hall.