The two were conversing happily when they were drawn to a forceful and resonant voice. The arched ceiling of Wanmin Hall had an amplifying effect that rendered these words with the resonance of metal and stone.
“Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the nation has been prosperous and the people at peace, with favorable weather and bountiful harvests. All this is due to Your Majesty’s benevolent governance, whose virtue spreads across the four seas, thus bringing about today’s peace throughout the realm. I was elevated by Your Majesty from humble origins to the position of censorial official. Every night I reflect on this and cannot help but weep tears of gratitude. Thus I made a great vow to expose treachery and villainy with every ounce of my strength, even if it means being ground to dust, I must fulfill my duties as a minister. Now there is a treacherous villain at court—internally engaging in countless acts of corruption, externally causing endless calamities. Why do all the assembled lords in court turn a blind eye and a deaf ear?”
“Marquis Yun of Lantian, Marquis Yun, you bear the nation’s grace, yet why do you act so wantonly and recklessly, poisoning the four seas? In Nanzhao, because of you alone, countless wilderness people died and were injured. In Lingnan, when the mountain god beat the drums, how many scholars died innocently? Now in Korea, one hundred thousand civilians died by fire. What virtue and ability does such a bloodthirsty person as you possess to occupy a high position? What face do you have to mingle among the ranks of the meritorious nobility?”
After finishing this speech, his fury still unabated, he shouted loudly, “Where is Yun Ye? Come out and confront this old man!”
Yun Ye was so astonished his mouth hung open. He pointed at the man in the hall and asked Xue Wanche, “Old Xue, do you know who this fellow is? I’ve never seen him before. Why is he so furious?”
“Seems to be a local official transferred up from Guazhou. He just became a censorial official and wants to show off his authority. Without knowing anything, he’s roaring in the great hall. Who does he think he is? It’s one thing to curse you, but how could he curse everyone in the entire hall? Look, Fang Xuanling’s face is so dark water could be wrung from it. Li Jing’s face is also black as coal. Don’t bother with him. Next court session you won’t see him anymore—just a fool crazed with desire for promotion.”
Li Er’s expression was also quite something. If the scolding had been clever, Li Er might have been interested in watching the spectacle, but for such a fool, he had lost all interest in paying attention.
Wei Zheng tried to pull him back to his seat, but was pushed away. The man glared around searching for where Yun Ye was.
The Korean chief envoy was very good at finding opportunities. Hearing someone speak up for his country’s grievances, he quickly came forward crying loudly, kowtowing to thank this censorial official for speaking righteously. He cried to the Emperor about Yun Ye’s atrocities in Korea. Takayama Yoko also came forward to accuse the Emperor about the whole story of how Yun Ye had robbed her. The expressions of everyone in the great hall were spectacular.
Xiao Yu was so ashamed he almost wanted to cover his face and flee. This person had been recommended to the Emperor by him. When in Guazhou, he had been considered a true Confucian scholar—upright in character, often in conflict with superiors. Though pedantic, he was still a good person. This time, not knowing whose instigation he had fallen under, he jumped out in the great hall filled with righteous indignation to denounce Yun Ye in grand fashion.
Li Er pointed at Guan Tinglong and said, “Zhen already knows all these matters. There is no need for Minister Guan’s reminder. Stand down.”
Originally the Emperor was giving him a way to save face, but Guan Tinglong did not appreciate it. Instead, he knelt down, holding his tablet, and continued, “Since Your Majesty already knows, why do you still allow such a butcher to stand in this court hall? I heard he is only twenty-one years old this year—far too young. When I was twenty-one, I was still a rash youth who understood nothing. When young people wield great power, they inevitably become arrogant and domineering. Half the blame for these great errors lies with him, and half lies with Your Majesty.”
“The merit of potatoes, I have witnessed with my own eyes—they have the virtue of feeding all the people. The power of corn, I have also witnessed with my own eyes—truly an auspicious sign for the realm. I have read ‘Elementary Mathematics’ three times over, and when reaching the exquisite passages, I slapped the table in admiration. Such a rare talent of the realm was thus utterly ruined by power. Every time I think of this, I cannot help but feel endless regret. The inflation of power lust ultimately led to such horrifying tragedies. When Your Majesty employs young ministers in the future, you should think thrice.”
After finishing his speech, Guan Tinglong removed his official hat himself and placed it on the floor, then said, “I am Your Majesty’s subject. I know these words are untimely, but when the Son of Heaven makes an error, his ministers must point it out. This is the best way to repay Your Majesty’s great grace. Now I have finished what I had to say. Regardless of the consequences, at least I have spoken my heart. This journey to the capital was not in vain.”
After performing the three bows and nine kowtows to the Emperor, he straightened up and was about to walk out. This truly extraordinary person and extraordinary conduct immediately left everyone in the entire hall completely stunned. Who in their lifetime becomes an official just to remonstrate with the Emperor once, then immediately abandons their office?
“Minister Guan, please wait. This junior has something to say.” Having witnessed such a strange affair, Yun Ye very much wanted to know where Old Man Guan had learned these things, especially about the mountain god beating drums and the Nanzhao affair. Very few people knew about these two matters—definitely not something a sixth-rank official like Guan Tinglong could know.
Old Man Guan stopped and looked at Yun Ye, saying, “You must be Yun Ye. Indeed, you have a distinguished appearance. Keep your title to pass to your descendants, but resign all official posts. Focus on scholarship—that’s better than killing people no matter what.”
“Minister Guan speaks truly. Yun Ye also considers himself best suited for scholarship, and always thinks about hiding in Yushan, teaching students for a lifetime without leaving the mountain. Unfortunately, I am still His Majesty’s subject, and cannot escape worldly toil. The reason Yun Ye comes forward is that there are several matters I wish to ask Minister Guan about. Given Minister Guan’s character, I imagine you would not deceive me.”
Guan Tinglong nodded and said, “Very well. Will you first answer a few of my questions? You must not deceive me either.”
Yun Ye smiled, cupped his hands in agreement, and asked Minister Guan to question him.
“Let me ask you: the Nanzhao tragedy resulted in six thousand deaths, not even counting the wilderness people. Is this so?”
“At that time, I was coerced by Dou Yanshan to Lingnan. To escape, I used a gold mine to lure them into a trap. Many people did indeed die, but I don’t agree with the number six thousand. It seems there were more. At the time, there were no fewer than five thousand desperadoes who went to Nanzhao to mine gold. I estimate the deaths numbered eight thousand, and this doesn’t count those who later went to Nanzhao to die on their own.”
“Mm, to eliminate traitors to the nation for self-preservation, even if the casualties were heavy, this matter is acceptable. On this matter, I apologize to you.”
Yun Ye never expected the old man would actually kneel down and kowtow once.
Before he could react, the old man stood up again and continued asking, “The mountain god beating drums was an extremely mysterious incident. Those involved are unwilling to say much, including Feng Ang himself who gave evasive explanations. As the party involved, you should be clear. I ask you, why did you commit unlawful acts by falsely invoking the mountain god’s name?”
“At that time, this junior was alone traversing the entire wilderness, in a state of extreme violent emotion. Daily I kept company with wild beasts, knowing only the forest law of the strong devouring the weak. When Princess Shouyang and her son were humiliated by others, Yun Ye’s heart held only infinite killing intent. So I used the beasts’ easily frightened nature to lure those so-called scholars who humiliated Shouyang and her son into beast trails. The result, as you know, they all died. That was a protectorate state where Great Tang’s laws did not apply. Now it’s different—that place is Great Tang territory, so naturally there will be no more mountain god beating drums incidents.”
Yun Ye spoke very honestly. Except for not mentioning gunpowder, he revealed everything else completely. Li Er relaxed and listened with great interest to the questions and answers between the old man and the young man. The officials in court were also very interested. Only Gai Suwen’s gaze was cold, and Takayama Yoko showed fear on her face.
“I understand now. At that time you were at a critical juncture of cognitive delusion. Being alone with wild beasts for many days, you inevitably absorbed their savage energy. Fortunately you passed through it; otherwise your spiritual wisdom would have been completely lost and you would have transformed into a beast. To pass through this cognitive delusion is truly cause for celebration. This matter is settled. When you displayed威 with corpses on the deserted island, I imagine the savage energy had not yet dissipated? This matter too shall pass. I…”
Yun Ye stopped Guan Tinglong who was about to bow again and said, “I’m afraid it is Yun Ye who should bow to you. Those Arab people were indeed killed on my orders, and it was also I who ordered their corpses nailed to wooden stakes, filling the entire island. The meaning was precisely to: establish authority! The seas and territories of Great Tang will not tolerate interference from others. When I gave the order, Yun Ye was perfectly clear-headed—it had nothing to do with savage energy.” After finishing, Yun Ye was about to kowtow to the old man. Since the other party was being so straightforward, he himself had no need to be evasive. Right and wrong didn’t matter this time—he couldn’t bully an honest man.
Guan Tinglong held Yun Ye back and said, “This matter is half right, half wrong. Neither of us needs to apologize. You are a general and should know how to establish authority. I will say no more. But what of the fires in Korea? Now both witness and evidence are present—how do you explain?”
Seeing the old man pointing at the Korean chief envoy still prostrate on the ground crying, Yun Ye walked over and stood before his head, then turned to Old Man Guan and said, “This truly is difficult to explain. The order I received at the time was to retrieve the remains of fallen soldiers from the previous dynasty and destroy the bone mound monument. As you know, my forces were entirely naval. To reach the bone mound’s location at Daewang Fortress, I had to travel up the Liao River from its mouth. But not far from the Liao River mouth were two very troublesome places—one was Beisha Fortress, the other Sanshanpu. Once I ignored them and entered the Liao River, if they blocked the river mouth, I would face the danger of total annihilation. Beisha Fortress had dangerous terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack. When Lai Hu’er broke this fortress in the past, he left thirty thousand corpses. I had only over ten thousand men and couldn’t afford such losses, so I could only use fire attack. In the end, they were burned to bare ground.”
“I am a military man. My military order was to retrieve the remains. So no matter what lay ahead, I had to overcome it myself and ultimately complete the mission. Daewang Fortress afterward was the same. No matter how many Koreans were burned to death, even if all Koreans were burned to death, I had to do it. I didn’t want too many of my subordinates to die, so the Koreans had to die instead. You only know many Koreans died, but you don’t know my subordinates also suffered a full thirty percent casualties. For these remains, we paid too great a price.”
“The reason I tell you these things is not because I feel guilty. I just want all the assembled lords to understand that war is an extremely cruel affair—either you die or I perish. There can be no margin for error in between. War cannot tolerate compassion. In the future, if the assembled lords decide to use war to resolve problems, then please have more pity for our own sons and brothers. Yun Ye has finished speaking. If Minister Guan believes Yun Ye was wrong, I will kowtow to you in apology!”