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“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 31
This is a blessing for the Han, not just Qiao Yan’s merit alone.
This line was also included in the memorial that Lu Zhi sent to the capital.
He thought for a moment and added, “This Qiao Yan is truly a pillar of talent for the Han. I hope your Majesty cherishes her and makes use of her.”
Seeing Qiao Yan holding down the camp’s achievements and witnessing her dominate the debate stage against the Great Virtuous Teacher Zhang Jiao, Lu Zhi felt that she deserved a different measure of value altogether.
What’s more impressive is her ability to leverage advantageous weapons and maintain coordination while also embodying the humble spirit of preserving Han rule without boasting of her accomplishments.
The more Lu Zhi observed Qiao Yan, the more he felt that if one were to cling stubbornly to gender biases, they might miss out on someone who could become a crucial minister for the revitalization of the Han.
Lu Zhi was clear-eyed about the current situation; even if they quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it wouldn’t change the fact that the Han was in a precarious position that was hard to remedy.
However, if your Majesty reflects on this uprising and promotes talented individuals like Qiao Yan for service, perhaps there’s still a chance to turn things around.
“I only wish your Majesty is not confined by prejudice.”
The Dowager Empress Dou, who elevated Liu Hong to the throne, might indeed pose some obstacles to Qiao Yan’s promotion.
Lu Zhi thought for a moment and added, “This is also the shared wish of myself and Huangfu Song.”
He had his personal guard send the memorial to Huangfu Song first, and after securing his seal, sent it post-haste to Luoyang.
Although he stated that the Yellow Turban Rebellion was merely one of the chaotic symptoms plaguing the crumbling Han, he couldn’t deny that curbing this disorder was indeed urgent.
The advantages were currently on their side.
The common people driven to rebellion by the Yellow Turbans, though they might not grasp the contradictions in the Scripture of Great Peace, understood one thing—
Although the talismans made with vermilion had yet to cause tangible harm at that moment, they certainly did not have the divine effects they hoped for, and Zhang Jiao was no bearer of the Yellow Heaven.
Without this spiritual leader, suppressing these Yellow Turban bandits had suddenly become a much easier feat than before.
Other regions might be a different story, mainly due to the timing of information transmission, but at least within Ji Province, the suppression operations were going much more smoothly than prior.
However, the matter of the common people’s uprising burning down government offices and raiding the estates of nobility would have to wait for the subsequent officials to take their posts and investigate.
Liu Bei and his retinue had initially turned back to escort prisoners from the Yellow Turbans due to the debate between Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao, but they now had to prepare to set out again.
This time, prisoners from the Yellow Turbans they had captured in Guangzong expressed a willingness to guide their forces in exchange for leniency, quite a change from their earlier stonewalling attitude.
As Liu Bei sighed in relief, he heard Zhang Fei ask, “Brother, I’ve been puzzled about something since yesterday. You’re smarter than me; could you clear it up for me?”
Seeing Liu Bei nod for him to continue, Zhang Fei said, “You mentioned that the mercury derived from boiling vermilion is toxic, but I heard that the previous emperor used to consume it. Were they not digging their own graves?”
“Mind your words!” Liu Bei nearly jumped at Zhang Fei’s question.
Fortunately, when Zhang Fei asked, he seemed aware that questions related to the emperor shouldn’t be so blunt.
Liu Bei glanced around, noting that no one was paying attention to their conversation and let out a relieved sigh.
Zhang Fei’s query felt much more exhausting to him than purging the Yellow Turbans.
While the current emperor Liu Hong didn’t share the same obsession with elixirs as the previous Han’s filial Emperor Wu, the practice of seeking immortality was not uncommon among the powerful.
Such things should not be casually discussed.
Moreover, Qiao Yan had revealed the toxicity of vermilion during the debates with Zhang Jiao, merely pointing out Zhang Jiao’s actions, which didn’t necessarily tie those who invited alchemists to create elixirs to her accusations. It was nothing but a thin veil of shame.
“Forget I said anything.” Zhang Fei noticed the warning expression on Liu Bei’s face and quickly zipped his lip,
but he still mumbled, “Not mentioning vermilion, but talking about Zhang Jiao should be fine… Speaking of which, before all this mess, I doubt he ever thought he would lose to a mere child.”
Zhang Fei still had a pretty good impression of Qiao Yan.
Despite her taking over the main camp outside Quzhou and employing that mysterious tactic that made Zhang Liang unable to engage, it naturally eliminated any opportunity for him to flex his muscles.
But regardless, with the fall of Quzhou, Liu Bei had genuinely earned solid credit for quelling the Yellow Turbans, and he ought to be given an official position, especially since he had heard General Lu Zhi discussing how the local offices probably faced shortages of personnel, leading to even more opportunity.
Since he began following Liu Bei in Zhuojun, Zhang Fei truly felt his brother was a remarkable figure; someone with ability should secure a position where he could showcase his skills.
But then again—
“Brother, what sort of reward do you think that lady Qiao will receive?”
“That’s not for us to say,” Liu Bei replied, climbing onto his horse as he spoke to Zhang Fei: “Let’s go, Yide. If you’re aiming to maneuver, just make sure you don’t act behind Yun Chang!”
With that, Zhang Fei dared not gossip about anything else.
Yet as Zhang Fei rode out of the camp, Liu Bei couldn’t help but glance at the large banner bearing Qiao’s name and pondered over the question Zhang Fei had raised.
Huangfu Song’s praise of Qiao Yan’s talent to assist a king was mentioned only in his letter to Lu Zhi, but he had publicly stated that a single person could be worth thousands of soldiers.
Qiao Yan had indeed proven this statement true through her actions.
Liu Bei felt that given this performance, he could likely secure a position in the recovering Ji or You Province after the turmoil; it wasn’t too late for him at just twenty-five to make a name for himself.
But he truly couldn’t gauge how far Qiao Yan could rise through her merits.
After all, the achievements she manifested were hard to evaluate.
Previously, Liu Bei had already gleaned from Chunyu Qiong that the eunuch Zhang Rang had withheld an imperial decree to confer a marquessate on Qiao Yan merely because of her gender.
However, now she had added another card to her hand that might be harder to suppress.
Or rather, if Han Emperor Liu Hong did not present a suitable reward, it would surely be difficult to keep the soldiers who participated in quelling the Yellow Turbans content.
If her contributions could easily be substituted, it wouldn’t be an issue; but unfortunately…
This was an extraordinary record no one could replicate!
However, before Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao’s three debates regarding the Scripture of Great Peace were duly noted and sent to Luoyang, news reached Liu Hong first of her being a woman.
Just as Liu Hong celebrated Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi’s victories over Quyang, capturing Guangzong and Quzhou, and the death, surrender, and capture of the Zhang Jiao brothers, he suddenly received this hot potato.
With just the achievements in Yanzhou and Yuzhou, he was already inclined to confer the title of Marquis of Leping on Qiao Yan, showcasing her exceptional talent.
Unfortunately, in the course of suppressing the rebellion in Ji Province, despite Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi taking the lead in capturing the cities, she would still rank third, making it hard not to reward her.
However, it had been hundreds of years since a woman was conferred a marquisate in the Han.
Although Liu Hong had occasionally made unconventional decisions, he had no intention of crossing such a line.
“This really is a tough question.” He read the memorial regarding the Guangzong and Quzhou battles and Zhang Rang’s urgent letter back and forth, realizing he had no grounds to blame Huangfu Song at this juncture.
Naturally, he couldn’t fault Qiao’s grandfather, who was gravely ill and had already lost both sons.
Liu Hong thought for a moment and decided to throw this problem to the court officials.
Such a headache of a matter was naturally for those with salaries to ponder.
Since Emperor Gaozu’s time, the morning governance rituals formed detailed regulations. Even with Wang Mang’s regime tacitly recognized as a new dynasty, it was restored after the rise of Emperor Guangwu.
As the time approached the seventh hour of the night, now entering the summer months, officials in red robes entered the hall in single file, kneeling according to their ranks before standing with their heads lowered while holding wooden tablets.
Even as they adhered to ancient forms, to show respect to the emperor, none dared to look up, but it did not prevent everyone present from hearing Emperor Liu Hong loudly yawn several times.
The Minister over the Masses Yuan Wei frowned.
He was well aware of the emperor’s folly, but now certainly was not a time to be slack; he ought to at least put on a show.
He exchanged a glance with the Grand Commandant Yang Ci, both clearly recognizing the frustrating state of affairs.
The Yuan Clan of Runan and Yang Clan of Hongnong held similar statuses, both could be counted as families of the four generations and three dukes, but however solid their foundations in the world, in terms of power hierarchy, they still fell short of the emperor.
When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Yang Ci had already chastised Liu Hong for his inappropriate behavior, almost risking his position among the three ministers; thus, he had to be cautious in his counsel.
Yet in this shared glance, Yuan Wei noticed that the Yang family members appeared to have inherited a directness that was practically ancestral. Even if Yang Ci swallowed down his comments today, they could easily resurface in a few days.
Thinking this, he pulled back his gaze and felt a tinge of sympathy for Yang Ci.
Fortunately, today’s court meeting was not focused on admonitions.
With chaos erupting often, the officials present each had their own agenda. From the daily affairs of Luoyang to the defenses of the eight gates of the capital, they now began discussing the state of the Yellow Turban conflict in Jing Province south of Luoyang.
“In Jing Province, the Yellow Turbans aggregated hundreds of thousands, led by Zhang Mancheng, defending Wancheng. The Right Middle General launched a surprise assault; his subordinate, the Captain of the Guard, first scaled the city walls, slaying Zhang Mancheng. Newly appointed Prefect in Nanyang, Qin Jie, ambushed at the gate and succeeded again, leaving only Zhang Mancheng’s remnants to attempt escape via the river, but they were slaughtered by the troops of the Right Middle General stationed by the rivers.”
“The Yellow Turban remnants intend to install Zhao Hong as their rebel leader, yet the Right Middle General had already foreseen this, as Xu Qiu, the governor of Jingzhou, led some troops to force Zhao Hong into Yicheng. Yicheng is not as difficult to capture as Wancheng, and the Right Middle General mentioned in his report it will fall within ten days.”
“Good, good!” Even though Liu Hong had already received this news yesterday, it didn’t stop him from exclaiming in praise now.
He openly expressed his satisfaction with the recent military achievements at Nanyang, saying, “The Right Middle General has not disappointed my expectations.”
The news that Zhu Jun was about to quell the Yellow Turbans in Jing Province, although not comparable to the achievements of Huangfu Song and Qiao Yan in targeting Zhang Jiao’s base of power, still counted as tangible results.
Liu Hong’s appetite had been whetted by the urgent mission sent back by Huangfu Song, yet he would not ignore the victory of reclaiming an entire province.
Moreover, the report spoke of the Right Middle General’s Captain of the Guard being the first to scale the walls, which made Liu Hong keenly realize that this individual was perhaps no ordinary person.
This wasn’t just a hero of thousands, but evidently a brave warrior.
If not for this breakthrough, despite swiftly subduing the troubles in Yuzhou, they might not have so easily seized Zhang Mancheng’s life.
After all, Wancheng was daunting to defend yet easy to attack, and even Liu Hong, who had spent years in the palace, was not unaware of this.
What was that person’s name written in yesterday’s separate report just for him?
Liu Hong lazily rested his chin on his palm, trying to recall—it seemed to have been named—
Sun Jian, Sun Wentai?
He ought to bestow an official position upon this person.
Fortunately, matters like this were never as troublesome as Qiao Yan’s situation…
Just as he thought of this, he suddenly saw Grand Commandant Yang Ci step out of the ranks, bowing again to announce, “I have a matter to report.”
Seeing Yang Ci’s face, Liu Hong couldn’t help but rub his forehead, “Granted.”
Yang Ci took a step forward, and Liu Hong instinctively felt he was about to be faced with another difficult issue; sure enough, he heard him say:
“The quelling of the Yellow Turbans in Jing Province is certainly commendable, yet numerous bandits abound, and the populace remains uncooperative. While the right middle general’s efforts against the Yellow Turbans can be described as tailored to the ailment, he cannot address the broader bandit issue. Qin and Xu Mengyu are not well-suited for this role either. I suggest your Majesty appoint someone to reward the military and another to assist in handling the bandit crisis.”
What are bandits? They are armed organizations based on clans in the southern hilly regions, often comparable to the northern local tyrants.
However, formally speaking, northern local tyrants, especially the bureaucratic gentry, were held in greater disdain as thieves in comparison to southern bandits.
Moreover, due to the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the rampant banditry in the southern areas of Jing Province was even more injurious than the Yellow Turbans themselves, leading to further disdain for being associated with them.
Take Su Dai, for instance, the bandit leader who was entrenched in the Changsha area.
Was Yang Ci right? Perhaps, but Liu Hong wasn’t inclined to heed such words!
He planned to keep these bandit forces around to balance against the local gentry in Nanyang. After all, neither side had stirred up any significant trouble lately, so why rush Zhu Jun and his men into further battles?
This would only add to their expenses, and besides, if they were to accomplish further feats, it would only mean more rewards.
Keep in mind, rewarding military leaders is trickier than appeasing civil officials.
But he couldn’t dismiss the suggestion outright; Liu Hong, with an expression of indeterminate emotion, merely asked, “Whom do you wish to recommend?”
Yang Ci replied, “I wish to recommend Huang Wan of Jiangxia.”
Huang Wan, Huang Ziyan…
Liu Hong replayed the name in his mind.
This wasn’t a completely unfamiliar name to him.
Huang Wan’s grandfather, Huang Qiong, was the son of the Minister of Works, serving as Minister of Works, Minister over the Masses, and Grand Commandant during the reign of Emperor Huan. When he passed in the seventh year of Yanxi, he was posthumously promoted to General of the Chariots and Cavalry. Huang Wan could thus be considered a descendant of famous officials.
This person had gained advancement early due to his wisdom and eloquence, and he indeed seemed to be a worthy talent.
But the issue was that he was also implicated in the Prohibition of Factionalists.
Due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Hong had to relinquish the prohibitory policies toward scholars to gain their support, but that didn’t mean he was entirely at ease with empowering those from that faction.
Yang Ci, humbly nodding his head, was unable to see the unkind glance that Liu Hong was throwing down from above. He only heard Liu Hong reply, “Huang Wan has been under house arrest in Jiangxia for years. While I trust he would not collude with bandits, it’s inevitable that there will be idle whispers.”
He paused, yawned tiredly, and continued, “However, I do have a fondness for Huang Wan’s talent. It would be a waste to let him idle at home; I will allow him to enter the capital to work as a councilor, and we can further discuss his assignments later.”
Once Liu Hong made this decision, no one else dared to interject.
Yang Ci bowed and expressed his gratitude, and Liu Hong added, “However, the Grand Commandant’s concerns regarding the banditry in Jing Province are not without merit—”
“General, do you have a suitable person to recommend?”
“`
“What about me?”
He Jin was caught off guard when Liu Hong called his name, but he quickly realized this was indeed a display of the Son of Heaven’s trust in him.
Since his sister entered the palace and gained favor, his promotion had been a smooth ride, and due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he was even elevated to the position of Grand General, earning the title of Marquis.
Now that he was a Grand General, he could establish his own residence. It had only been three months since the execution of Yellow Turban disciple Ma Yuanyi, yet his Grand General’s Mansion was already bustling with staff.
When Liu Hong asked if he had anyone to recommend, He Jin’s mind instantly flooded with names.
For instance, there was his chief clerk Chen Lin, who could write a mean essay. Although there was no talk of the Seven Scholars of Jian’an yet, and he hadn’t yet penned the infamous diatribe against Cao Cao’s baldness, it didn’t stop Chen from impressing He Jin with his writing.
But, being a scholar, he wasn’t suited for the chaos among the bandits.
That meant his choices were significantly narrowed down.
He Jin leaned towards recommending a few people who were more useful in practice.
Who were these people in He Jin’s employ?
There was Kuai Yue, a leading figure from the prominent Kuai family in Jing Province.
Yuan Shao, who had previously hidden due to the Prohibition of Factionalists, had come out to serve at his call.
Liu Biao, one of the Eight Talents, a member of the Han royal family, had been forced to flee due to the student movement linked to the political purge, and he had only just been invited to join by He Jin last month.
Also, there were Han Zhuo, Wang Kuang, Xu You, Wu Fu, and more…
For He Jin, these folks were way better at talking and doing things than this butcher standing before you, and they all had pretty nice things to say to him.
Since Liu Hong had asked, it seemed only appropriate for He Jin to recommend someone for a reward.
However, perhaps due to thinking too long, right before he could mention Liu Biao’s name, he heard Liu Hong beat him to it, saying, “Forget it, you just established your mansion as Grand General. Your subordinates haven’t had the chance to showcase their talents yet. If you recommend someone who’s all talk and no action, it’ll tarnish your reputation.”
That sounded like genuine concern from Liu Hong, to the point where He Jin didn’t even realize he hadn’t said a word himself when he fell back in line.
Yuan Wei glanced suspiciously in He Jin’s direction, seeing only the joy of being favored by the Son of Heaven on his face, he felt like he was probably thinking too much.
But before he could ponder anything further, Liu Hong spoke again, “Earlier, the Grand Commandant mentioned Huang Wan and Huang Ziyan, and it made me think of someone I want to discuss with you all. This person’s name happens to share a character with Huang Ziyan’s, that is the character for ‘Yan.’”
“Qiao Yan, the grandson of Lord Qiao.”
Hearing this name made Yuan Wei’s eyelids twitch.
He previously knew about Liu Hong’s directive to Zhang Rang and Zuo Feng to read the imperial edict in Ji Province from his sources. That’s why he had sent Chunyu Qiong along with them.
Just yesterday, Chunyu Qiong’s overly brief but surprisingly information-rich letter had landed on his desk.
Now, hearing Liu Hong mention Qiao Yan, others might not see its importance, but Yuan Wei knew very well.
He had thought Liu Hong had already given Qiao Yan the title of County Marquis before the Ji Province battle was even resolved, considering it an exceptional privilege, but he never expected him to say it so officially in this court meeting.
Was it to solidify her status, or…?
Yuan Wei mentally cursed Chunyu Qiong.
If only he had been a bit more cunning and wrote more about Qiao Yan in his letter, he could’ve gained some insight into the not-so-famous Qiao family girl.
But Chunyu Qiong had only vaguely mentioned her interactions with Zhang Rang, which forced him to lose the upper hand.
Yet, Yuan Wei knew it was precisely because a clumsy person like Chunyu Qiong was sent out that Liu Hong agreed to the decision.
His absurdity built upon cleverness, and he wasn’t an easy man to fool.
But right now, musing over that was pointless.
Yuan Wei had barely digested his frustrations when Liu Hong said, “I hadn’t had the chance to mention this to you before. Young Master Qiao assisted the two middle generals in quelling the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou and Yu Province, seeking revenge for his father, deep in enemy territory. He maneuvered the two factions of Yellow Turbans against each other, providing the Left Middle General with an opportunity to defeat the bandits. He is truly a paragon of filial piety and loyalty. And while you all knew the Right Middle General rushed straight to Wancheng after victory in Changshe, you likely didn’t realize the Left Middle General ambushed Xiaquyang and, after his triumph, joined forces with the Northern Middle General.”
Upon hearing news of the meeting with Lu Zhi, the officials present pricked up their ears, already engaging in some speculation.
“The two Middle Generals delayed their military reports to avoid any remaining Yellow Turban troubles in the capital. Now that the delayed reports have arrived: Qiao Yan has secured the camp in Quzhou, confronting Zhang Liang. Meanwhile, Lu Gong and Huangfu, luring Zhang Bao to open the gates of Guangzong, captured Zhang Jiao, and they will return to Quzhou to take down Zhang Liang. The Moth Bandits’ chaos hasn’t been entirely quelled, but the end isn’t far off.”
Hearing this, everyone quickly chimed in with a hearty “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
But perhaps in their cheerful tones, they were congratulating not just Liu Hong, but also themselves.
The Yellow Turban bandits had been acting up right under their noses; everyone knew that to some extent, they just never thought a mere Zhang Jiao could achieve such feats.
Had he still been rampaging in Julu, with time passing, it would have been hard to determine where things might have ended up.
Now, they could lay the blame for the roots of the Yellow Turban Rebellion on the Ten Attendants, but what would follow was entirely uncertain.
But now that Zhang Jiao had been captured, cleanup would always be easier than suppressing a rebellion, and everyone could sleep soundly.
Liu Hong continued, “In this battle, the Left Middle General has secured two provinces with his swift assault; he should take the top honor. The Northern Middle General maneuvered between Zhang Liang and Zhang Jiao, building an advantageous situation, while Qiao Yan could play a role beneath these two. What do you gentlemen think?”
Yang Ci was known for being straightforward, and he didn’t shy away this time either.
Hearing that the Yellow Turban Rebellion had captured the bandit leader in May, he felt that Liu Hong hadn’t completely lost his wits. At least, he hadn’t misjudged when selecting generals for the expedition, and it still felt like divine support.
As for what he mentioned about Qiao Yan…
He stepped forward and replied, “If this child truly possesses the skills Your Majesty speaks of, then promoting him as a marquis and granting him military titles is well deserved, demonstrating Your Majesty’s regard for valiant subjects.”
Yang Ci was unaware of Qiao Yan’s situation; he was just speaking based on what he knew.
Qiao Yan hadn’t had any previous renown, and the Emperor mentioned her by name, which probably indicated she hadn’t even matured yet. Thus, it seemed she was a tad young.
But according to Han custom, one must observe a three-year mourning period for deceased parents; by then, “he” would be about old enough. If they were to assign a position in advance, it might not hurt.
Special times call for special treatments.
However, Liu Hong seemed completely unconcerned about any potential trouble that could arise from him receiving this unexpected news; he immediately dropped a bombshell: “But Minister, did you know that Qiao Yan is not the boy you referred to, but rather the granddaughter of Lord Qiao? Do you still think she can be rewarded in that manner?”
“……” Yang Ci stood there, stunned, slowly lifting his gaze toward Liu Hong, only to realize that the latter’s expression was quite serious, clearly not joking.
“She’s a daughter…”
Well, it wouldn’t do to grant her a simple reward.
Liu Hong didn’t need to fabricate contributions for her in front of the court just to elevate Qiao Yan’s status. Therefore, it’s likely that being in the enemy camp, stirring trouble among the Yellow Turbans, and leading a surprise attack at Xiaquyang, played a significant role in her contributions.
“And she’s just a ten-year-old girl.”
Liu Hong’s additional remarks followed swiftly, causing Yang Ci, who believed the person he recommended, Huang Ziyan, was already a great talent for Han, to suddenly realize Qiao Yan was on another level altogether.
No wonder Liu Hong hesitated when he first heard about the person Yang Ci endorsed; it was related to this one character.
But if it had been a boy, the reward wouldn’t have necessitated any complicated discussions.
Given the achievement of defending against the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the three main strategists would surely become marquises, while additional positions must be granted on top of the Middle General rank. Since Qiao Yan was still a commoner, a marquis title wouldn’t be out of the question, and any further details could be discussed later.
But with her being a girl…
“Since the time of Emperor Xiaowen, there have been no women admitted to the court in Han, nor any made marquises. It’s likely… it’s likely inappropriate to grant her such honors as previously mentioned…”
Yang Ci, who was usually eloquent, couldn’t help but hesitate when faced with this issue.
But before he could finish, Yuan Wei stood up from the ranks and said, “Since she has made significant contributions to the Han, she must be rewarded; otherwise, how can we appease the populace? But from my perspective, we should consider a different way to grant her rewards.”
Previously, Yuan Wei couldn’t fully determine Liu Hong’s stance regarding Qiao Yan’s reward; now, hearing his exchange with Yang Ci, he roughly figured it out.
He was still on the fence.
But he clearly leaned towards the marquis position.
In that brief moment, Yuan Wei couldn’t grasp whether this inclination was due to personal preferences or driven by Zhang Rang’s conspiratorial matters mentioned in Chunyu Qiong’s letter. But in either case, Yuan Wei could certainly sense Liu Hong’s hesitations, leaving openings for negotiation.
Yuan Wei was opposed to making women marquises!
He naturally had to intervene.
Yet, he was better at speaking than Yang Ci and would never douse Liu Hong’s triumphant spirit with cold water during a festive occasion for meritorious subjects.
This conversation had to be approached delicately.
He thought back to the royal favor lavished on He Jin since taking over as Grand General and what he had just said earlier. When Liu Hong gestured for him to continue, he replied, “The Han Dynasty governs the world through filial piety. Since Your Majesty has acknowledged that Qiao Yan assisted in suppressing the Yellow Turbans as a means of avenging her father, it is indeed fitting to honor her as a benchmark for rewards.”
“Indeed.”
“This girl can spot weaknesses amidst the chaos of war, demonstrating her profound intellect, and she has taken charge of leadership in the army, showing she has skills in coordination and management,” Yuan Wei added.
Noticing that Liu Xie still hadn’t shown any signs of disapproval, he continued smoothly, “The Crown Prince Bian is 11 this year, and with Miss Qiao being 10, why not award her as the Crown Prince’s consort? After three years of mourning, it would be the right time for a wedding, and with her abilities, she could assist the Crown Prince in studying and alleviate Your Majesty’s burdens.”
“Moreover, Qiao Yan’s grandfather has dedicated himself to the Han, displaying utmost loyalty; this would also serve as a recognition of him. With the two sons of Lord Qiao deceased, aside from Your Majesty, who else can nurture the orphaned daughter?”
“If she cannot be made a marquis, then a suggestion I propose is this win-win tactic.”
After Yuan Wei’s words, voices of agreement echoed through the court, but Liu Hong at the head remained silent.
Yuan Wei cautiously glanced at him and noticed he didn’t seem displeased; he felt his suggestion was probably on point.
But he had no idea that while Liu Hong’s outward demeanor showed no signs of disturbance, his mind was in turmoil.
Yuan Wei! That rascal, suggesting something that touched upon all three of Liu Hong’s taboos like a precise arrow!
Nominating Qiao Yan as the Crown Prince Bian’s consort seemed like a good idea.
However, a few years ago, Liu Hong might have found that acceptable, but now he wouldn’t.
Liu Bian was already 11, and Liu Hong had high hopes for him but found him surprisingly timid and indecisive in character. He didn’t resemble his child at all, in contrast to Liu Xie, who had garnered more of his affection. Yet Yuan Wei misjudged his preferences, believing he favored Liu Bian.
Though it was a Han tradition of not favoring the young over the elder, Liu Hong had repeatedly defied norms and wasn’t one to care about that.
Should Qiao Yan become Liu Bian’s consort, with her impressive skills displayed during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, she could secure Liu Bian’s position as the Crown Prince, which diverged from what Liu Hong truly wanted.
This was the first taboo.
In truth, even if Qiao Yan were to be the consort of Liu Xie, Liu Hong would not agree either.
A few generations back, Empress Dowager Deng, though titled as such, had deposed emperors twice while wielding near-total authority. While she was competent, her influence led to later Empress Dowager Dou harboring intentions for power. Liu Hong had just escaped that threat and would never allow his descendants to risk falling into such situations.
In fact, with Liu Bian at her mercy during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Qiao Yan could use similar tactics against the three Zhang brothers in Ji Province; such cunning, even cloaked in filial piety and loyalty, made Liu Hong wary.
As such, he particularly could not allow her to become the future empress.
And thirdly…
His gaze flitted seemingly casually yet purposefully, inspecting the surroundings of Yuan Wei and He Jin.
Since he had grown slightly distant from Liu Bian, he shifted some resentment towards Empress He and He Jin, yet needed the support of the in-laws to maintain balance, resulting in his promotion of He Jin to Grand General and Marquis.
But it was clear that this cautious move hadn’t led He Jin to possess the restraint typically associated with that title!
Instead, he started to act like the most prominent figure in Luoyang once he established his mansion!
Liu Hong didn’t charge him or refrain from praising him, yet he surely noticed the situation.
He was well aware of Yuan Wei’s nephew Yuan Benchu entering He Jin’s service.
Now, hearing Yuan Wei’s self-important suggestion only struck Liu Hong as the Yuan clan of Runan trying to curry favor with He Jin.
That was something he couldn’t tolerate!
Of course, Yuan Wei wasn’t entirely off the mark.
He indeed hadn’t figured out how to reward Qiao Yan and was in a quandary about whether to break from ancestral customs and bestow a marcuhal title.
But instead of withdrawing the idea of making her a County Marquis, he had unintentionally set his resolve in another direction.
What do you mean she can’t be made a marquis? Why can’t she be? I’ve finally set up a balance of power among nobles, in-laws, and eunuchs, only to find two sides flirting right under my nose. It would be better to grant Qiao Yan a marquis title, allowing her to leverage her loyalty and piety for his advantage!
But before he could voice anything, a young aide hurriedly rushed in with news—urgent military dispatch from Ji Province.
Liu Hong suppressed his stirrings of ambition, first grabbing the military dispatch sealed with lacquer and meticulously reading the letter written by Lu Zhi.
Initially, he worried that the urgent report bore ill tidings but upon deciphering the content, his eyes brightened.
He had always found Lu Zhi’s tedious mannerisms irksome, yet at this moment, the arrival of this letter felt perfectly timed!
He had hardly reached the end when he slammed his palm down on the table.
The resounding sound echoed alongside the resolute determination now brewing within him!
“Lu Zigan reports that Qiao Yan engaged in three debates with that Yellow Turban bandit Zhang Jiao, emerging victorious each time, showcasing all the flaws in the Way of Great Peace’s principles. Now, the Yellow Turbans in Ji Province… no, the displaced people in Ji Province see Zhang Jiao as a villain! This is truly the key to turning the tide!”
“Yuan Si Tu, your earlier words were completely misguided! How could such a phoenix be confined within the inner palace?”
Liu Hong pronounced each word with undeniable conviction as he looked fiercely at the assembled ministers and declared, “I intend to reward her with the title of County Marquis!”
