Han Yang was not a spoiled wastrel. Although he relied on his father Han Zhengqing’s position as Commander-in-Chief of Datong to rampage unchecked throughout the city, that was only because his father’s surname was Han. His father had no real father-son affection for these sons of his—this point he knew deeply.
He originally had four other half-brothers, but by now, only one remained. The other three had all died fighting enemies beyond the passes. One third elder brother was especially unlucky—out of curiosity about the Tartar lands, he had stubbornly tagged along with the Fan family’s merchant caravan outside the passes, then carelessly got captured by a Tartar chieftain. When he declared himself to be the son of Datong’s commander, that chieftain used him to threaten Han Zhengqing. But Han Zhengqing said not a word—didn’t even go through the motions of false compliance—and directly beheaded the envoy the chieftain sent to negotiate terms.
His third elder brother never returned after that. Thinking of this, Han Yang’s heart churned with mixed feelings.
His father made such decisions without ever considering their brothers’ futures. He had originally thought it was because his father valued legitimate sons while looking down on illegitimate ones, but when his legitimate elder brother in the capital died, he hadn’t seen his father particularly grieved either.
Now his father was preparing to rebel, yet he was the last to know, and still had to deliver messages for his father.
If they succeeded, given his father’s temperament, he might not truly be ennobled as prince or minister. But if they failed, because his surname was Han, he would have to journey to the underworld together with his father. He lowered his head, a flash of complexity in his eyes, and only after a long while did he say in a heavy voice: “Please give your orders, Father.”
Han Zhengqing didn’t notice his son’s emotions. In his view, his sons shouldn’t have any emotions anyway. He was their father—he had given them life. Moreover, if he succeeded, his sons would rise with him in the future. Paying some price and taking some risks now was only proper.
Of course, Prince Dongping was the exception. That was the child born by the person he treasured most, and naturally should be protected most securely, unable to suffer the slightest harm.
Han Yang changed into the most inconspicuous clothes, disguised himself as a merchant dealing in animal hides, and set out with over a dozen men. After traveling without sleep or rest for several days and nights, he finally reached the outskirts of Taiyuan. At a teahouse, listening to others’ idle conversation, he heard that the court had already issued an edict saying that Han Zhengqing harbored wolfish ambitions, had unauthorized killed the court’s imperial commissioner and edict-bearing envoy, was plotting rebellion, and that Cui Shaoting, Supreme Commander of the Three Borders, was to deal with him.
His heart tightened. He couldn’t even bother finishing his tea and, following his father’s instructions, first found Zou Yanzheng.
Zou Yanzheng had been waiting for him until his hair was nearly white. Everything on Prince Gong’s side was ready—they only lacked the east wind. But after Han Zhengqing had someone send that useless letter, there had been no further word from him.
The way Prince Gong had been looking at him these past days seemed like he wanted to devour someone. He really couldn’t hold on much longer. Fortunately, someone finally came—and it was Han Yang, Han Zhengqing’s own biological son. He keenly perceived Han Yang’s purpose in coming and didn’t dare delay. He immediately had him go wash up first, then led him straight to the prince’s mansion.
Prince Gong had recently successfully taken all the guards under Bai Guan and Lin Chong into his own hands, and deliberately promoted Wu Feng to fill Bai Guan’s former position. He had also surrounded the Jinzhong area tightly. One could say everything was ready except the east wind—as soon as the word “rebel” was spoken, they could immediately seize that whole group in Jinzhong.
But even though he’d been so busy recently, his heart hadn’t settled for a single moment. His heart swayed violently with anxiety. The reality was, he only had sixty thousand men. If he lacked Han Zhengqing’s support, even if he rebelled, it would be a dead end. He couldn’t make any significant waves at all. Yet Han Zhengqing had never sent any news, and he worried that Han Zhengqing might back out.
Fortunately, Han Zhengqing still sent someone—and it was his son. Prince Gong breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t even bother with eating and first had someone lead Han Yang to the study, then hurriedly changed his clothes and rushed over himself.
Han Yang first spoke of his father’s pursuit of Marquis Dingyuan: “Before I came, the court had already sent two waves of envoys to Datong to proclaim edicts. The first time, my father used delaying tactics. The second time, pressed urgently, my father’s killing intent was aroused.”
That the killing intent had been aroused actually made Prince Gong breathe easier—he had been waiting until his throat was practically smoking.
Han Yang swallowed and continued: “Marquis Dingyuan publicly said that if my father defied orders, he would be plotting rebellion. My father acknowledged it. But even though preparations had been made early, Marquis Dingyuan still couldn’t be captured immediately.”
Prince Gong didn’t much care about these people’s lives or deaths. Truthfully, once one decided to rebel, it didn’t matter who died. Even Cui Shaoting—the first to die would be him and his family.
Therefore, he grew somewhat impatient listening and, eyes fixed intently on Han Yang, coughed once: “Worthy nephew, just tell me what your father plans to do.”
Han Yang respectfully acknowledged this and said: “My father’s meaning is that the banner of rebellion can be raised. As for the reason for raising troops, it can be set as ‘clearing away the sovereign’s corrupt advisors.'”
Clearing away the sovereign’s corrupt advisors! The knot between Prince Gong’s brows loosened slightly, and he asked somewhat impatiently: “What does this mean?”
Zou Yanzheng had already pondered the implications. Actually, rebellion was inevitable, but under what pretext to rebel was truly difficult. As the Chief Clerk had said, as long as Emperor Jianzhang lived for one more day, Prince Gong would be a rebellious subject and unfilial son, destined not to win the people’s hearts.
Before he came, Han Zhengqing said he already had a method. Now it seemed he was having Han Yang come to explain this.
Sure enough, Han Yang glanced at Zou Yanzheng and said: “Lord Zou should know about the matter we fabricated before regarding the stone tablet at the imperial mausoleum in the capital.”
Naturally he knew this—they had even bribed people around the Grand Prince and Grand Princess Consort, people who had come down from Longhu Mountain. Zou Yanzheng knew they would definitely make their move through the Grand Prince and Grand Princess Consort, so he nodded: “Yes, but I don’t know what relation this has to clearing away corrupt advisors?”
Han Yang’s experience was still somewhat lacking. His face showed some confusion and bewilderment. After thinking for a moment, he laid out his father’s words completely: “Father said that a demon woman brings disaster upon the sovereign. The demon woman was originally a lone star of calamity, with a baleful star illuminating her fate. Ever since this disaster star appeared from nowhere, the capital has been far from peaceful. Prince Duan and Consort Xian died in succession, the Crown Prince and Grand Prince also encountered many misfortunes, and Your Highness the Prince and the Princess also, because of her slanderous bewitchment of the sovereign, incurred the sage’s displeasure, and she fabricated charges against them, sending people under the false guise of bandits to secretly harm them…”
So the purpose of burying that “lone star of calamity” stone tablet back then was for this!
“The demon woman’s crimes are far more than just these.” Han Yang swallowed again, somewhat nervously: “The demon woman also secretly harmed the Crown Prince, supported the bewitched Grand Prince to ascend, and furthermore colluded with the Song and Cui families to greatly persecute the court officials…”