With his legitimate wife Lady Wang having finally just given birth, Han Qian nevertheless pressed ahead urgently to petition the court to establish his concubine-born son Han Wenxin as heir apparent to the Marquis of Qianyang. This matter was like a stone suddenly shattering the calm surface of a lake. While it couldn’t be called earth-shattering waves in Jinling, it created layer upon layer of ripples, causing endless discussion throughout court and society.
Although the early-to-mid previous dynasty had new laws allowing equal division of family property among all sons, even permitting illegitimate children to register under their father’s name, political powers such as clan rituals and hereditary privileges were still strictly inherited by the legitimate eldest son. In the late previous dynasty, due to provincial separatism and frequent warfare, to ensure clan power continued and remained strong without being weakened through division among multiple sons, the legitimate heir system had even regressed somewhat.
Among princely and noble families, if a son born to the legitimate wife proved truly unworthy, there were precedents of petitioning to abolish and replace him. But there was no precedent for impatiently petitioning to establish a concubine-born son when the legitimate son had just been born mere days ago.
Of course, Han Qian’s petition to establish a concubine-born eldest son in defiance of convention didn’t provoke particularly great controversy.
Perhaps for those outside Tangyi, most people’s mindset was simply waiting to see when the Qianyang Marquis household’s inner quarters would produce a farce of legitimate versus concubine-born succession struggles—everyone would have a good show to watch. Everyone also clearly understood that Han Qian had always acted recklessly these years. Whatever he wanted to do in Tangyi, the outside world seemingly could never successfully prevent.
Court and society weren’t lacking in people speculating about Han Qian’s motives for choosing this moment to submit his petition.
To say Han Qian remained bitter about the Lanting Lane disaster, that marrying Wang Wenqian’s daughter was merely a politically advantageous marriage for Tangyi with no actual affection for Wang Wenqian’s daughter, that perhaps he had long since excluded any sons born to Lady Wang from succession—this was certainly one reason. Otherwise Han Qian wouldn’t need to so conspicuously petition to establish a concubine-born son. But this obviously wasn’t the main reason for petitioning at this particular moment.
Officials from the Censorate and Ministry of Rites naturally submitted memorials with strong emotions condemning the Marquis of Qianyang’s absurd action. The Political Affairs Hall fell silent, seemingly unwilling to react to Han Qian’s memorial in the short term.
Of course, though the court had no reaction, this didn’t prevent Han Qian from taking measures within Tangyi to confirm his eldest son Han Wenxin’s status as heir.
Or rather, Han Qian never intended to wait for any court reaction, but used the act of submitting a memorial to announce internally the fact of establishing his eldest son Han Wenxin as heir.
While submitting the petition, Han Qian not only designated Feng Liao and Guo Rong, these two civilian leaders of Tangyi, to teach his eldest son Han Wenxin elementary studies, but also—even as Kong Xirong led the advance battalion north along the Ying River from Huoqiu to reinforce Chenzhou—ordered the Third Town Army transferred to defend the currently most critical line of Donghu, Liyang, Wuling, and Shiquan, with Zhao Wuji concurrently serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Third Town Army.
As the younger brother of Lady Zhao and the maternal uncle of Han Qian’s eldest son Han Wenxin, Zhao Wuji had followed by Han Qian’s side earliest from the twelfth year of Tianyou. He could be called Han Qian’s most trusted direct subordinate. But now, holding the positions of Vice Commander of the Cavalry Guard and Administrator of Chaozhou while concurrently serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Third Town Army, his military authority already exceeded that of direct subordinate generals like Tian Cheng, Lin Haizheng, Yang Qin, and Kong Xirong…
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Entering the sixth month, Jinling City blazed with scorching sun baking the earth. Sitting in the shade by the pavilion, Yang En, also in his sixties like Shen Yang, nevertheless had much better spirits. He wasn’t bothered at all by the harsh cicada chorus in the garden, holding chess pieces in his hands, contemplating his moves…
Qin Wen, Xue Ruogu, and Palace Attendant Chen Ruyi from Chongwen Hall sat to the side observing the game while serving tea. Other attendants stood far away across the pond.
After the navy’s main force was annihilated at Hongze Lake, Yang En had carried the Empress Dowager’s edict to Chaozhou camp, joining Li Zhigao in persuading the generals to follow the Empress Dowager’s edict. But Yang En’s actions then had merely been to save Great Chu from collapse, with no intention of turning toward Cishou Palace or colluding with Tangyi. After the affair concluded, upon returning to Jinling he could only remain in his residence “recuperating from illness.”
This illness had lasted three or four years. Only in recent years, at Shen Yang’s urging, whenever court deliberations reached difficult decisions, Emperor Yanyu would send messengers to inquire Yang En’s opinion. Only then did Yang En regain the position of policy-participating minister, though he still spent most of his time at home.
Except for major ceremonial occasions, he rarely attended court.
Of course, Yang En remained equally vigilant toward the two rising provincial powers of Xiangbei and Tangyi these years. Regarding the expansion of Imperial Guards, the new formation of Left and Right Wuxiang Armies, and employing Li Changfeng, Li Xiu and others from the Prince of Eastern Zhejiang’s faction along with generals like Zhou Bingwu and Du Chongtao, he chose to stand with Shen Yang.
However, regarding the Mongols and Wei Province rebels breaching the Yu River embankments, causing the Yu River to seize the Huai and flow to sea, creating overwhelming floods in Huaihe, East Huai, and West Huai, Yang En’s position diverged from Shen Yang’s.
In fact, after the upheaval in Heshuo, regarding Han Qian’s collusion with Liang forces—even last year’s open assistance allowing Guanzhong Liang forces to return to the Huai River region—Yang En had never again expressed opposition. He even strongly advocated that court officials should pay more attention to the Mongol threat.
Of course, Yang En and Shen Yang’s divergence on these positions didn’t prevent Shen Yang from coming to consult Yang En first whenever matters arose.
Today was also fortuitous timing. Chen Ruyi came on Emperor Yanyu’s orders to privately inquire Yang En’s opinion about Han Qian’s petition to establish an heir apparent, just as Shen Yang happened to be at Liyang Marquis Manor playing chess. They sat together in the pavilion to talk.
“The Marquis of Qianyang has submitted a memorial petitioning to establish his concubine-born son Han Wenxin as heir apparent—this action truly defies all convention!” Chen Ruyi said with feeling.
Chen Ruyi was a disciple Zhang Ping had brought out, originally also a follower of the Evening Glow Tower lineage. But after the Jinling Incident, he and his senior apprentice brother An Jixiang were both relied upon by Emperor Yanyu.
In earlier years, Chen Ruyi and An Jixiang were perhaps somewhat isolated and weak, after all lacking prestige with few truly capable and trustworthy direct subordinates. When the Jinyun Bureau was dissolved, they didn’t even have a voice in the matter. But another four or five years had passed, and affairs of the Palace Eunuch Bureau no longer required Zhang Ping or Jiang Huo to have any say.
Chen Ruyi hadn’t yet reached thirty, but entering and leaving the forbidden palace, he already possessed considerable dignity as a chief eunuch.
Yang En merely raised his eyelids to glance at Chen Ruyi and asked:
“What constitutes defying convention?”
Chen Ruyi was startled, but Yang En had once refused even Emperor Tianyou’s face. Even hearing the contempt in Yang En’s words, he could only secretly resent it, saying: “Great Chu law honors previous systems—’establish the legitimate by age not merit, establish sons by status not age.’ If the Marquis of Qianyang does this, won’t the entire realm fall into chaos?”
“If this ‘establish by age and status’ system were useful, then the Liang Emperor’s throne shouldn’t be occupied by Zhu Yu, the Shu ruler’s throne shouldn’t be occupied by Wang Yong, and our Great Chu Emperor’s throne shouldn’t be occupied by the current His Majesty,” Yang En said with a derisive smile.
Chen Ruyi stood there stunned. Yang En spoke recklessly, and he truly dared not respond carelessly. Glancing at Shen Yang with his head lowered fiddling with chess pieces, seemingly completely unconcerned about how treasonous Yang En’s words were.
“Speaking of breaking rules—the Marquis of Qianyang implementing tax-per-mu in Xuzhou in earlier years, does that count as breaking rules? Recruiting slaves and servants in Jinling to form the Chishan Army while proclaiming wealth has no inherent class, does that count as breaking rules? Vigorously developing industry and commerce in Xuzhou and West Huai, does that count as breaking rules? Eunuch Chen, you come here on His Majesty’s behalf—what you should ask isn’t whether the Marquis of Qianyang’s action conforms to rules. That question should go to the gentlemen of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court. Here with me, you should ask whether the Marquis of Qianyang’s action is feasible, and what the Marquis of Qianyang’s purpose is,” Yang En continued.
Chen Ruyi cursed inwardly—old nitpicker, I just hadn’t gotten around to asking directly yet!
Only then did Shen Yang pick up the conversation, saying: “Han Qian is urgent to establish an heir and have the Zhao siblings control Donghu’s internal and external affairs—he still intends to personally lead forces to intervene in the Huai River war!”
Yang En nodded, agreeing with Shen Yang’s judgment:
“In this era, young children easily die prematurely. Even born to princely and noble families, not everyone can safely grow to adulthood. Han Qian is clearly making worst-case preparations for the current situation and obviously cannot establish Wang Jun’s just-born son as heir. His eldest son Han Wenxin is the more suitable choice. Additionally, though Zhao Wuji’s military authority is heavy, the Zhao family is small with only the Zhao siblings—no uncles, brothers, or cousins alive. Should Han Qian truly suffer some accident, Zhao Wuji should at least currently wholeheartedly assist his sister, rally Tangyi’s officers and officials together to support Han Wenxin’s growth to adulthood and inherit the foundation Han Qian has built these years. Switch to Wang Jun’s son—never mind that Wang Zhe, Wang Tang, Huo Xiao, Huo Li, Wang Yan and others hold inconspicuous positions, and Wang Wenqian and more Wang clan descendants haven’t been incorporated into Tangyi—but given time, one truly can’t say they won’t become another Xu clan with designs to usurp. The Zhao siblings have shared hardships with Tangyi’s officers these years. Beyond this point, most Tangyi officers come from humble origins. Among the Han and Wang families, those truly employed in Tangyi are concubine-born sons and sons-in-law rather than legitimate sons. Therefore, Han Qian establishing Han Wenxin as heir apparent might surprise those within Tangyi, but there actually won’t be opposing voices—at such a time, should Han Qian truly meet with misfortune, Tangyi can guarantee a more stable transition…”
Hearing Yang En analyze it this way, Xue Ruogu furrowed his brow and asked hesitantly: “Is the situation in the Huai River region truly perilous to this degree, forcing Han Qian to arrange his affairs before going to war?”
“Zhu Yu is a generation’s hero, yet was beaten by the Mongols without ability to fight back. How could the Mongols be as simple as imagined? Unfortunately, court officials still don’t pay nearly enough attention,” Yang En said worriedly. “Xu Mingzhen and Sima Tan seemingly haven’t surrendered yet, but this looks more like a trap to lure Tangyi in. Han Qian must have long anticipated this—with the Ying River flooding like an ocean, on the western flank Zhu Yu attacks Heluo without needing Tangyi’s direct military support. No amount of additional troops could deploy in Heluo anyway. Han Qian most likely still wants to preserve Bianjing. But on the eastern front, to bypass the fortified cities Xu Mingzhen guards and proceed up the Ying River, the eastern bank’s flood zones make troop movement difficult. Only the courier road Zhu Yu rushed to build in northern Chenzhou still stands precariously amid the flood waters—also the only route Han Qian can use to reinforce Bianjing. Once Xu Mingzhen and Sima Tan defect and surrender, this precarious flood-surrounded courier road becomes too easily severed. At that point, Han Qian would have to instead attack and capture Bozhou and Qiaozhou to reestablish contact with Tangyi. Tell me, how can Han Qian avoid being overly cautious at this time?”
“Does the Marquis conclude that Han Qian, knowing full well it’s a trap ahead, will still step into it?” Chen Ruyi asked.
Chen Ruyi came to seek counsel on Emperor Yanyu’s behalf. Even looking down on him, Yang En still pondered before answering seriously:
“Han Qian has always been one to take unconventional approaches. A person’s nature is forever the hardest thing to change in this lifetime. He won’t truly fear just because it’s a trap ahead—Prime Minister Shen and Minister Xue understand this all too well. If possible, I’d like to advise him against reckless action. However, Han Qian previously dared defy convention to allow Liang forces passage through Tangyi back to the Huai River region—his view of the situation is more pessimistic than all the court officials. Once the Huai River region falls, West Huai will directly face Mongol cavalry. Actively striking now to confine warfare to the Huai River region is perhaps, in the Marquis of Qianyang’s eyes, a not-worse choice…”
“If Tangyi forces truly enter the Huai River region to fight the Mongols to mutual destruction, that wouldn’t be a bad thing for the court,” Qin Wen said with a cold laugh.
Yang En shot Qin Wen a sharp glance. Qin Wen calmly turned his head away.
Yang En looked again at Shen Yang and Xue Ruogu, who didn’t speak up to rebuke Qin Wen. He sighed inwardly, knowing they harbored similar thoughts.
“According to the Marquis’ words, should His Majesty approve Han Qian’s memorial this time?” Chen Ruyi asked with a cold laugh.
Yang En fell silent without responding.
Shen Yang tossed his chess pieces into the board, braced himself to stand, saying: “Let’s stop this game here today. If the Marquis truly wants to share worries for Great Chu’s altars of state and grain, he should take up matters of the Directorate of Imperial Manufactories or Ministry of Works and stop ‘recuperating from illness’ at home…”
Yang En sat there gathering the chess pieces without responding to Shen Yang’s remark.
“Alas…” Shen Yang sighed lightly and took his leave from Yang En.
Walking out of Liyang Marquis Manor, as Chen Ruyi boarded his carriage to return to the palace, he asked Shen Yang: “Prime Minister Shen, how should I report to His Majesty when I return?”
Shen Yang stood under the scorching sun, seemingly unable to feel the searing heat. After hesitating quite a while, he said with a sigh: “Since the Late Emperor already granted the Han family hereditary title to Xuzhou, whom to establish as heir is not something the court should interfere with too much.”
Shen Yang was undoubtedly saying that establishing an heir apparent belonged to internal Qianyang Marquis household affairs. Whatever memorial Han Qian submitted, the court should simply approve. Hearing this, Chen Ruyi laughed coldly and said: “Excellent, I’ll report thus to His Majesty.”