“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 225: The Debate Between Monarch and Ministers…
Xun Yu found himself unable to answer that question just yet.
What he could confirm, however, was that compared to Yuan Shao and Liu Bian in Ye City, Qiao Yan and Liu Yu in Chang’an seemed much more likely to achieve the goal of joint governance between the royal family and the gentry, or rather, maintain the status of the gentry in the Han’s realm.
Honestly speaking, Qiao Yan should have been Xun Yu’s first choice.
His friends Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia had already pledged their loyalty to her long ago.
After arriving in Chang’an, Xun Shuang sent Xun You to serve as her military advisor.
Looking across the myriad of heroes since the death of Emperor Ling of Han, very few could rival Qiao Yan.
Yet, it was odd, he thought. Even though he had never personally interacted with Qiao Yan, there was something in her demeanor that didn’t scream loyal Han official.
She had shown too much rationality and clarity during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, to the point that when Xun Yu tried to place himself in her shoes, he found it hard to imagine her being all in for Han’s interests.
It didn’t feel quite right.
There were certain attitudes, which those who worked with or opposed Qiao Yan might not see clearly, but as an outsider, Xun Yu saw it much more plainly.
Moreover, if you swapped her gender, perhaps the competitors of the era would better understand her contradictions.
Of course, Xun Yu didn’t need to expose her.
After all, she hadn’t crossed any lines and had managed to turn Bingzhou into a model region for livelihood and governance.
Yet, because of her unclear ambitions, Xun Yu was hesitant to commit to her.
This was what he had never shared with Zhuge Liang.
But now, a change he never expected had occurred.
With the chaos in Chang’an coming to an end, it wasn’t Qiao Yan who was aiding Liu Xie, the young emperor, in toppling Liu Xie’s authority using her “restoring the rightful ruler” campaign.
Instead, it was Qiao Yan, along with loyal ministers like Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, Huang Wan, and Wang Yun, who supported Liu Yu to the throne after Liu Xie’s disappearance.
Choosing the mature Liu Yu as emperor seemed to contradict Xun Yu’s earlier suspicion that Qiao Yan harbored treasonous intentions.
Could it be…?
She just wanted to be the power behind the throne, but only for the emperor she had chosen?
Xun Yu mulled over that possibility.
Ranking the governance of livelihoods across the provinces, Qiao Yan’s Bingzhou was undeniably at the top, but Liu Yu’s Youzhou had once driven down grain prices remarkably—a strong contender for second or at least third place.
From the perspective of the masses, Liu Yu’s ascension would undoubtedly change the spendthrift and corrupt practices from the days of Emperor Ling of Han.
If this was Qiao Yan’s pursuit, then her previous actions started to make sense.
Unfortunately, such a deep analysis of her governing philosophy wouldn’t be found in the letters Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai sent to Xun Yu.
He could only compare and assess various warlords as he traversed the land until he received news of Liu Yu’s ascension, leading him to this uncertain hypothesis.
Now was not the time to shy away from Qiao Yan for fear of vanishing like Feng Xian.
As a talent recognized by He Yong, he could very well use the excuse of providing advice to Liu Yu to set foot in Chang’an.
With this thinking, he finally arrived at Wuguan.
Xun Yu adjusted his cloak and headed towards the gate.
Behind him, his attendant led his horse, following closely.
Perhaps because Chang’an was about to welcome a new emperor, which meant opportunities for commerce, or maybe due to Liu Biao’s impressive efficiency in attacking Dong Zhuo as seen by Qiao Yan, the restrictions on this crucial pass had been loosened. Plenty of merchant caravans were bustling about at this junction between Sili and Jingzhou.
Amidst the crowd, Xun Yu, despite his distinguished aura that set him slightly apart, wasn’t too conspicuous.
Just as he verified his identity and entered the gate, a little boy ran up to him.
He stopped to let the boy catch up, hearing the child ask, “My lord asked me to inquire, could you be the famous Xun Wenruo from Yingchuan?”
Xun Yu followed the boy’s pointing finger and saw a rather sizable merchant caravan.
The cart the boy was pointing to looked a bit fancier than the usual merchants’ carts, but to most, it would still be just another wealthy merchant.
But for someone to recognize him wasn’t an ordinary event.
Xun Yu replied, “And if so?”
The boy said, “If so, my lord invites you to ride in the cart for a chat. The journey to Chang’an city is over three hundred miles, and though you have your horse, riding in the cart would be much more comfortable.”
Even though Xun Yu didn’t know the identity of his host, he accepted the invitation.
To his surprise, upon boarding the cart, he found himself face to face with a young man, probably only seventeen or eighteen years old.
A person whose identity was not hard for him to guess.
Outside, the snow was still falling in the cold winter, but inside the cart, the furs lining the interior kept it warm, and before he got in, the boy handed him a hand warmer, so he didn’t even notice the cold.
The young man seated within had gentle features with a hint of sharpness to his demeanor, clearly no ordinary scholar.
His words, laced with a Yang Province accent, made him appear a bit more approachable.
Xun Yu smiled warmly, “Why is Zhou Gongjin not guarding Yang Province for Sun Bofu, but traveling through Jingzhou to Chang’an?”
With his identity revealed, Zhou Yu was quite relaxed: “If this trip has greater significance than guarding Jiujiang, then I surely can make the journey.”
There was a vendetta between Jingzhou and Sun Ce, although Liu Biao and Sun Ce were indeed supporting Qiao Yan and Liu Yu now, the hatred between the two sides would not dissipate easily.
Zhou Yu, being Sun Ce’s right-hand man, shouldn’t have taken this route.
However, considering the ongoing rivalry between Yuan Shu and Sun Ce, this route was significantly safer than going through Yu Province.
Moreover, given the current situation, Zhou Yu indeed had a chance to travel.
Who knew that Yuan Shu, situated in Runan, recognized that Zhou Yu was not easy to handle and dared not attempt to reclaim Jiujiang, yet also had to face threats from Liu Bei in his own territory?
He certainly wouldn’t have expected Zhou Yu to suddenly leave Jiujiang for Chang’an.
During the brief stop of the merchant caravan at Wuguan, Zhou Yu had his attendants brew hot water outside, which he now used to treat Xun Yu to tea.
Most of the tea cakes these days still came from the south, and the tea from Yang Province was made by roasting picked leaves into a reddish powder and mixing it with oil paste. After brewing, it would also contain some scallions and ginger.
However, after Lu Yuan, who was sent by Qiao Yan to Yang Province, mentioned that drinking tea in Bingzhou was rare with additives and usually focused on pure flavor, Zhou Yu picked up on that.
This clear tea was placed before Xun Yu.
The cart rolled steadily northwards, and thanks to its high-quality build, the ride was smooth, creating a small ripple in the not-quite-full cup—a bit of amusement in itself.
Zhou Yu continued, “I’d heard of your arrival to Yang Province back when you came from Xuzhou. I noticed you didn’t seem to have any intention of visiting anyone, so I held off on interrupting. Now it’s quite the coincidence to see you here.”
Months ago, he had wanted to ask Sun Ce to invite Xun Yu after hearing of his arrival in Yang Province.
But thinking back to the Gao Dai incident, Zhou Yu promptly abandoned that idea.
At this point, both he and Sun Ce were no fools; they recognized that someone was stirring the pot behind Gao Dai’s troubles.
Even though Bofu first settled in Yang Province to aid in breaking the siege of Lujiang, there were still many who didn’t want him to establish a solid foothold here.
Unless Xun Yu clearly stated his intention to meet with Sun Ce, it was better for him to remain out of sight here.
It turned out Zhou Yu’s plan was spot-on; seeing Xun Yu passing through without stopping at anyone’s door clearly indicated he didn’t have a high opinion of Sun Ce.
Now this chance encounter on the road to Chang’an allowed them to share a few drinks and idle chat.
Xun Yu eyed the young man sitting across from him.
In terms of demeanor and grace, this fellow could easily be regarded as a model of the gentry, and given his dealings in Yang Province, he certainly had both wisdom and courage.
As someone who valued talent, Xun Yu didn’t feel the need to put on airs around this hospitable cart owner.
He said, “If it’s just tasting the famous tea of Wu, there’s no need to say it’s a bother; it’s just getting to know a friend.”
As he spoke, Xun Yu couldn’t help but ponder Zhou Yu’s purpose in coming to Chang’an.
If Zhou Yu was merely seeking the position of Yang Province governor for Sun Ce, based on what Xun Yu had heard, Sun Ce had already shown acceptance of Liu Yu’s ascension to the throne, and no one was more suited than Sun Ce for that position in Yang Province. Given Qiao Yan’s potential influence, Zhou Yu wouldn’t need to make this journey personally.
This was almost a done deal.
But just like Zhou Yu said, he felt there was a matter more important than guarding Jiujiang, thus making this choice.
It seemed he wasn’t here to observe the relationship between Liu Yu and Qiao Yan for future adjustments but was looking to gain insights from the developments happening in the region.
Although Xun Yu kept his speculations to himself, as their conversation deepened, Zhou Yu casually mentioned that he was indeed hoping to make a deal with Qiao Yan.
As for the specifics of the deal, Zhou Yu, following the principle of “no need to go too deep too soon,” didn’t elaborate.
The two shifted their talk to literature and music theory.
Zhou Yu was twelve years younger than Xun Yu, but having already served under Sun Ce, it was reasonable for them to converse as equals.
For Xun Yu, having such a conversational partner on the road to Chang’an made the journey all the more pleasant.
But he hadn’t forgotten his observational purpose for coming.
During the halt on the journey, he had noticed others coming to this place.
Now that they were within the Guanzhong area, some of those who previously mixed amidst merchant caravans like Zhou Yu had begun to become more conspicuous.
Due to the strife between Yuan Shu and Liu Bei in Yu Province, quite a few from Runan and Yingchuan who weren’t particularly fond of either were making their way south to Nanyang, now that Liu Yu was about to ascend the throne in Chang’an.
Xun Yu, being from Yingchuan himself, spotted several familiar faces in the crowd.
Whether these people were just there to observe or were seeking advancement paths remained uncertain, so they merely exchanged nods of greeting without further interaction.
“I heard that during Liu Gong’s time as the Youzhou governor, merchants dared not engage in price gouging. If that’s true, by the time next spring rolls around, we’re bound to see a flood of people from Nanyang and Hanzhong heading into Guanzhong.”
This influx of population would inevitably further strengthen the power in Guanzhong.
Although we still can’t expect numbers to reach what they were during the former Han when Chang’an was the capital, the increased population and the trade brought in due to Liu Yu’s reputation and credibility could dilute Dong Zhuo’s influence in the region in no time at all.
It’s difficult to say if this is one of the reasons Qiao Yan chose Liu Yu.
Xun Yu couldn’t help but exclaim, “That Qiao Bingzhou made a pretty smart choice.”
At least for now, Liu Yu’s credibility holds up under scrutiny.
But maybe if she really has ambitions, this choice might not be so wise for her after all.
Which evaluation eventually prevails is anyone’s guess, much like the unpredictable outcome of the East-West tug-of-war within the Han dynasty.
It might be better to see the current state of construction in Chang’an with our own eyes.
Upon their arrival in Chang’an, they received word that due to the re-zoning of the city and the upcoming ascension ceremony for the Son of Heaven, all vehicles were strictly prohibited from entering the city and had to be parked at the official inn outside the Xuanping Gate.
Zhou Yu noticed Xun Yu intending to walk directly into the southern outskirts, so he instructed his men to take the carriages to the inn while he followed Xun Yu’s lead.
In their view, among the remains of several rammed earth platforms in the southern outskirts, the one farthest east was under intense reconstruction.
Though there was still light snow falling, dozens of oil cloths produced by the Liangzhou textile workshop were connected together, forming a unique canopy that kept the construction site sheltered from the wind and snow—so even if the snow intensified, work wouldn’t have to be halted.
From the shape of the platform, Xun Yu deduced that this must be the site of the old Hall of Enlightenment and Imperial Academy.
The surrounding circular waterway and the nearby L-shaped accessory buildings also hinted at its identity.
Like the situation in Luoyang, this place held the responsibilities of imperial rituals, sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, and receptions of dignitaries, also representing the Han royal family’s dignity.
It was destroyed during the chaos caused by the Red Eyebrow Army in Chang’an, and when Dong Zhuo led Liu Xie to escape to Chang’an, he actually prioritized repairing the Weiyang Palace over rebuilding the Hall of Enlightenment.
Only now was it being restored.
As Xun Yu took a couple of steps closer, he noticed not just the Hall but also the circular waterway of the Imperial Academy needed restoration, having been neglected for years and requiring dredging to connect it to the riverway to the south.
This river directed toward the residences in the eastern suburbs of Chang’an and cutting across them.
The team working on this project seemed to be simultaneously dredging the river while adjusting its course, perfectly timed during the winter while the river was frozen and dried up, ready for action come spring.
Xun Yu noted that the one overseeing the maintenance of this round waterway was a middle-aged court attendant, who didn’t seem to be one of the eunuchs assigned to Liu Xie after Dong Zhuo arrived in Chang’an; he looked more like an old-timer from Luoyang.
Surprisingly, the workers were a bunch of Qiang people.
Due to the surrounding barriers, Xun Yu couldn’t get any closer for a better look; he could only glimpse this unusual combination through the outer water channel. Thinking this arrangement likely came from Qiao Yan’s initiative, Xun Yu slightly revised his opinion of her.
She was indeed adhering to the rituals of the Han dynasty.
He shifted his gaze away from this direction and turned west.
To the west of the Hall of Enlightenment stood the ruins of twelve ceremonial buildings. Unfortunately, given the current manpower and resources, repairs were out of the question. To avoid the dilapidated appearance interfering with the grand aura of the Hall, they decided just to dismantle all the wooden beams on the platform completely.
Only on the farthest west square platform was the Astronomical Observatory rebuilt there.
The two high platforms faced each other, seemingly representing the southern gateway and visage of Chang’an. Though unfinished, it allowed one to start imagining a proper appearance a month later.
Thinking of this, Xun Yu’s expression softened a bit.
He signaled to Zhou Yu and together they traversed the new path between the Hall of Enlightenment and the Astronomical Observatory, heading towards the city of Chang’an.
Since Xun Yu had sent his followers to search for Xun You in the city after arriving, he spent a bit more time observing the construction scenes in the southern outskirts. At the southern gate of Chang’an, right outside the An Gate, Xun You was already waiting with an umbrella.
Perhaps due to Xun You personally coming to greet them, Xun Yu sensed the city guards shooting them quite a few curious glances, but when Xun You looked their way, they instantly resumed their stony demeanor.
“No need to look, I don’t have extra eyes compared to anyone else,” Xun You said to them.
After entering the city gate, he quietly laughed and scolded, “These little monkey soldiers from Liangzhou! I should’ve suggested swapping them out for a different group!”
Though he called them monkeys, his tone implied he was relatively close with these soldiers.
Xun Yu took a glance at him and felt it wasn’t just his imagination.
This nephew of his, who typically spoke little and sometimes seemed a bit dull, seemed to have spruced up a lot in the two years since following Qiao Yan in battles.
But once they entered Chang’an, he found himself too occupied to notice Xun You’s situation and instead observed his surroundings.
The main street of the An Gate running through north and south is eleven li long and about sixteen zhang wide, with the center six zhang designated for the Son of Heaven to ride, while both sides were for officials and pedestrians.
The differentiation of this road had been re-established and it was easy to guess this was also restored ceremonially for the Son of Heaven’s ascension.
Xun Yu asked, “So the residences still only spread around the Weiyang Palace?”
Xun You replied, “Right, Liu Gong is a proponent of simplicity, so according to earlier agreements he made, we’ve retained the Weiyang Palace and the Gui Palace as the main residences, where the former is for the Son of Heaven, and the latter is used for court meetings.”
Both palaces were located on the western side of the wide street they were on.
Xun You gestured towards the east and continued, “The Long Le Palace is nothing but ruins now, and repurposing it into residences wouldn’t fit either, so the nine government offices have been relocated here. Moreover, Liu Gong has reassembled his direct old troops from Youzhou into the Jinwu Guard, and they’re now stationed here.”
This distance was much easier to mobilize than before in Luoyang, effectively preventing any potential palace coups.
As they walked north a bit further, they heard Xun You continue, “To the north are the Three Temples, Nine Markets, and the neighborhoods.”
Given that Chang’an’s geography sloped from south to north, upon exiting the northern gate they encountered the Wei River; thus, when entering from the southern side of Wu Pass, they first saw the palaces and then the residences.
The Weiyang Palace presided at the highest southern point overseeing the imperial city, and also surveying the lowest northern views of the Guanzhong plains and flowing waters.
Although Xun Yu hadn’t seen what Chang’an was like a month prior, he could tell this place, after the renovations and planning, was now much more orderly than it once was.
He inquired, “Has Qiao Bingzhou returned to Chang’an yet?”
“I figured you’d ask that,” Xun You acknowledged, clearly knowing that Xun Yu’s underlying question wasn’t just about a simple meeting with Qiao Yan but the distribution of power in the transformed Chang’an.
The strength and weakness between powerful nobles—especially those with military power—and the future Son of Heaven would likely be the primary standard by which these newcomers would judge their course.
Seeing Zhou Yu engage with them knowingly before heading towards the guesthouse, Xun You replied, “You chose the right time to ask. Liu Gong arrived in Guanzhong yesterday, temporarily stationed at Gaoling, and brought part of the cavalry to Chang’an. The cavalry is camped on the north bank of the Wei River while she and her entourage entered the city.”
“However, she didn’t stay long inside the city before heading back out again, and before leaving, she even took someone with her—Tian Zitai, the one who assisted Liu Gong with farming and legislation in Youzhou.”
When Liu Yu came to Liangzhou to supervise, Qiao Yan had lamented why Liu Yu went alone without bringing along her helpful aide, Tian Chou.
Fortunately, with Liu Yu now in charge of Guanzhong and Zhang Liao stationed in Shanggu, Tian Chou should have naturally followed her to Chang’an, which was ultimately satisfying for Qiao Yan.
According to Qiao Yan regarding Liu Yu, when she initially delineated the areas for civilian and military settlements in Guanzhong, Liu Yu hadn’t yet decided to come, and Tian Chou wasn’t there either, so she’d handed over the authority of coordination to Guo Yuan and Cheng Yu.
But now that Liu Yu has arrived, she’d just invited Tian Chou to take over part of it, which aligns with the principles between lord and minister.
To say Qiao Yan was willing to relinquish control over military settlements in Guanzhong would be underestimating her ambitions.
But before planning for the position of Grand Marshal, she simply couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.
Having cultivated farmland in Luoyang back then, why should it be a problem for her to take a step further in the management of military settlements in Chang’an?
She certainly wouldn’t feel cheated in doing so.
The military settlements in the Guanzhong plains should, in fact, be divided into three sections based on Maiwu and Chang’an, and with her remaining staff in Liangzhou and Bingzhou, there was still a lack of managerial talent in Guanzhong.
When her own resources ran dry, she would simply draw upon others’ supplies.
Having a loyal servant like Tian Chou involved in the military settlement affairs could also help her garner a good reputation.
In truth, though, Tian Chou’s power in this matter is quite limited.
While the grain prices in Youzhou are stable, the yield per mu is still far below that of Bingzhou.
Before long, Tian Chou would realize that in addition to managing his duties, he’d also need to consult Cheng Yu and Guo Yuan about many things. Otherwise, he’d run the risk of mismanaging the land resources.
In this scenario, given Tian Chou’s practical nature, he would likely defer to Cheng Yu as the main decision-maker.
This would be the most beneficial arrangement for Qiao Yan.
But to the unaware, this would seem like a move to maintain the Son of Heaven’s dignity.
Xun Yu vaguely discerned that in this collaboration, it was still Qiao Yan who held the reins; he had to admit this was already the most prudent course of action.
Looking at it this way, everything he had witnessed since arriving in Chang’an seemed to signal one thing—
The Han dynasty Qiao Yan aimed to support is one with virtuous people like Liu Yu at the center.
Her noble heritage and aspirations for high-ranking officials certainly didn’t discredit her intentions.
While Xun Yu pondered this, he heard Xun You ask, “Wenruo, now that you’re in Chang’an, I suppose it’s time to ask openly—what are your current thoughts?”
“I…” Xun Yu began, but suddenly spotted a group of attendants in waiting from the Observatory passing before him and stopped mid-sentence.
Xun You thought Xun Yu was interrupted due to people passing by.
However, when he looked over at Xun Yu, he found his expression to be unusually strange.
Xun You asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xun Yu frowned, “I think I just saw someone I know.”
Though it was just a fleeting glance, he felt certain he couldn’t have mistaken it.
What confirmed his suspicion was when that person, upon seeing him, deliberately turned their head away, avoiding his gaze.
This individual absolutely shouldn’t be here, least of all in such a group!
Even if he was like Zhou Yu, just here in Chang’an for business, that would be somewhat understandable, but what was he doing among the attendants of the Astronomical Observatory?
That was clearly Tian Feng, the strategist under Yuan Shao!
