Having successfully connected with Huyan You, Ming Yu had Wu Erlang find a way to bring the people and goods remaining outside the city inside. They rented a courtyard in the city to stay temporarily.
Sure enough, this time, having already paid off the gate guards, they entered the city smoothly. Compared to what Huyan’s retainer had taken, the bribes for this entry were merely a drop in the bucket.
Ming Yu began using the goods they’d brought to extensively contact Huyan You’s household retainers, thereby influencing Huyan You, who in turn could influence Liu He.
When Liu Yuan had Liu He flee with the officials and harem, he stayed behind in Pingyang’s imperial palace and hastily summoned ministers to entrust them with the succession.
Although Liu He was not young, Liu Yuan felt he had difficulty governing the state. In terms of intelligence and ability, he was far inferior to Liu Cong; in terms of benevolence and accepting counsel, he couldn’t match Liu Yi either.
If Liu Yuan were ten years younger or healthy enough to believe he could live another decade, he would have wanted to change crown princes.
But at that moment there was no time. The Huyan clan’s power was considerable, and the five tribes’ forces weren’t entirely under his control. Changing crown princes at this time would only throw the Xiongnu into chaos.
So he had to make do.
Liu Yuan anxiously summoned Liu Huanle and Liu Yang.
Because the city gates had been blown open and time was critical, he could only hastily issue orders: he appointed Liu Huanle as Grand Commandant and appointed Prince Changle Liu Yang as Grand Tutor. He entrusted the Crown Prince to them before the court officials, naming them as regent ministers. Besides these two, there were also Prince Jiangdu Liu Yannian and Prince Chu Liu Cong, who were campaigning abroad.
Four regent ministers, all from Xiongnu who had taken the Liu surname, with Liu Cong being his own son. This arrangement left the five tribes somewhat dissatisfied and Liu He very dissatisfied.
The five Xiongnu tribes had always governed themselves separately and fought among themselves. Only after Liu Yuan rose to power did he gradually subdue the five tribes, being elected as Great Khan, and then leading the five tribes to conquer the realm and proclaim himself king.
Thus the five tribes retained great autonomy. Dissatisfied with Liu Yuan’s arrangements, they directly influenced their tribesmen and soldiers below—everyone had recently been less enthusiastic about fighting.
Liu He was most displeased. As Crown Prince, he had always feared Liu Cong and Liu Yi would seize his position. He thought that once he became emperor he could rest easy, never expecting that his father would not only elevate Liu Yi but also make his most dreaded Liu Cong a regent minister.
So Liu He was very unhappy.
Huyan You was also very unhappy.
Why should all the regent ministers be surnamed Liu?
He was clearly very capable too, and he was the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle. Liu Yuan’s mother was from their Huyan clan—they’d already been the maternal family for two generations. One could say that half of the Han state now belonged to Huyan bloodline.
He felt he should at least have gotten a regent minister position, yet Liu Yuan hadn’t given it to him.
Seeing that after arriving in Zhongyang County, Liu Huanle and Liu Yang held power and suppressed him at every turn, constantly urging Liu He to send troops to find the missing Liu Yi, Huyan You went before Liu He to sow discord: “The late emperor didn’t consider the relative importance of things. Liu Cong and Liu Yannian lead two hundred thousand elite troops abroad, while palace guard forces were handed to Liu Huanle and Liu Yang. Your Majesty now exists as if living under another’s roof—in name the master, in reality a guest. Such calamity is unpredictable in the future. I hope Your Majesty will plan ahead.”
These words struck at Liu He’s heart, making him trust Huyan You even more and increasingly dissatisfied with the state policies set by Liu Huanle and Liu Yang.
Liu Huanle and Liu Yang originally felt staying in Xihe Commandery was too dangerous—Zhao Hanzhang could attack with her forces at any moment. This place had no natural barriers, no geographical advantage, and Liu He had commandeered large tracts of land on the outskirts of Zhongyang County as soon as he ascended the throne, then forced commoners to build him a palace. Now they’d lost the people’s support as well.
Although Liu Huanle and Liu Yang enjoyed luxury and always seized land and people for private gain, they understood priorities. At this time, they shouldn’t deepen conflicts with ordinary people but should focus on pacifying subjects and citizens.
Then quickly go join forces with Liu Cong.
Huyan You loved doing the opposite of what they suggested, so he advised Liu He not to listen to them. Liu He indeed didn’t listen.
Compared to Liu Huanle and Liu Yang, wasn’t Huyan You his own maternal uncle, more worthy of trust?
Then Ming Yu arrived in Zhongyang County.
Upon entering the city, he first investigated the current internal situation of the Xiongnu Han state. Although Huyan You was now his “ally,” this time he decided to side with Liu Huanle and Liu Yang.
If they didn’t go join forces with Liu Cong, how could they fight each other?
So after contacting Huyan You’s important retainers, he submitted advice through them to Huyan You: “The Grand Marshal already has great prestige in the military. This campaign against Jin put all the nation’s elite forces in his hands. Now that he’s broken through Yuncheng and captured the Jin Emperor and Jin court, his prestige among the Xiongnu has probably reached its peak.”
The retainer said, “If we take no action now, I fear when the Grand Marshal returns, it will be when calamity descends.”
Liu Yuan had appointed Liu Cong as Grand Marshal before his death—he was the fourth regent minister.
Huyan You’s heart tightened with some fear, but he also looked at the retainer suspiciously. “Such insight isn’t something you could have. Who said this?”
The retainer’s face reddened slightly, and he could only reveal Ming Yu as the source.
Huyan You immediately demanded to see Ming Yu.
Last time, Huyan You had only met him briefly, focusing mainly on Wu Erlang and paying little attention to Ming Yu following behind him.
Seeing him again this time, Huyan You looked Ming Yu up and down and asked, “How does a mere merchant have such insight?”
Ming Yu immediately bowed. “The general surely thought of this himself, but being occupied with myriad affairs and confident, you didn’t take such a small calamity to heart. But if the Grand Marshal harbors disloyal intentions, then a small calamity becomes a great one. I receive the general’s protection and truly couldn’t restrain myself from speaking a few extra words. I beg the general’s forgiveness.”
Huyan You, pleased by the flattery, waved his hand dismissively. “Naturally I thought of this. However, the Grand Commandant and Grand Tutor both have close relationships with the Grand Marshal. I fear if they join forces, it will be even more disadvantageous for His Majesty.”
When had Liu Huanle and Liu Cong’s relationship improved?
Did Huyan You think Liu Huanle and Liu Yang were looking for Liu Yi simply because Liu Yi was an imperial prince?
Of course not.
As Liu Yuan’s most beloved son during his lifetime, Liu Yi had very high prestige within the Xiongnu, with even Liu Huanle and Liu Yang quite fond of him.
So their urging Liu He to send troops to find Liu Yi was to counter Liu Cong and protect Liu He!
As long as Liu He found Liu Yi and brought him back, given Liu Yi’s character, he would definitely sincerely acknowledge his elder brother’s imperial position. If they then went to join Liu Cong with Liu Yi, at least half the people from the five Xiongnu tribes would favor Liu Yi and join him in protecting Liu He.
Then Liu Cong wouldn’t dare act rashly.
Even Ming Yu, an outsider, could see this, yet Huyan You and his nephew Liu He stubbornly couldn’t understand it, believing Liu Huanle and Liu Yang were so anxious to find Liu Yi in order to support him instead.