Chapter 89
Enemies and Friends
Winter in Luoyang was no different from last year, yet it somehow felt different this time.
Liu Hong gazed toward Qiao Yan, who was praying in the hall.
After the great fire at Yutang Hall, he had continued to collect funds under the pretense of repairing the palace. Over two years had passed, and Yutang Hall remained in disrepair, leaving him to reside in Jiade Hall instead.
That was also the last place he met with Qiao Yan.
Clearly, this place, now the Emperor’s residence, was no longer suitable for such encounters, so this meeting took place in Lantai.
This was supposed to be a place for compiling historical records, but after Liu Hong moved to the Southern Palace, it became his study. At this moment, bamboo shadows from the opened window crossed in, elongated by the slanting rays of the setting sun, reaching right up to Qiao Yan.
The slanting light added a touch of red to her white garments.
Zhang Rang dared not even breathe as he watched this scene unfold.
Though he knew Qiao Yan was audacious, he didn’t expect her to appear before Liu Hong in such a manner after three years away from Luoyang.
Who would dare to dress in mourning attire before the Emperor like that!
Even the recent emperors rarely attended the funerals of high officials, clearly avoiding such appearances, yet Qiao Yan had the gall to enter Lantai Hall under the pretext of accepting the Emperor’s summons.
Especially given what she had previously declared.
When bandits plagued Bingzhou, she “took it upon herself” to quell them.
When the Xiu Tuge invaded Bingzhou and massacred the inhabitants of Guyang County, she continued to “act on her own” to bring order, even taking the heads of the Xiu Tuge to Southern Xiongnu to make a point.
If everyone acted so recklessly, wouldn’t that throw the established order of the world into chaos?
Fortunately, she did acknowledge her overstep, hence her visit to Luoyang to report to Liu Hong, yet halfway through her apology, she added:
“My grandfather’s tomb is in Leping, and as the Marquis of Leping, it’s my duty to defend it. My grandfather had aspirations to protect the peace of the Han, and I must take that as my responsibility.”
“Now that Bingzhou is unstable and the people are suffering, if we let the Xiu Tuge run rampant and breach Guanglu Pass and break through the Great Wall, Southern Xiongnu may seize the opportunity to rise, joining forces with the Xiu Tuge, while the White Wave bandits may take advantage of the chaos to invade southwestern Bingzhou. Thus, both Bingzhou and my grandfather’s shrine shall not be preserved.”
“I lack capability to foresee and prevent, so I can only eliminate the Xiu Tuge and incite the White Wave bandit leader to turn against them, breaking the bandit power, and using the heads of the Xiu Tuge to intimidate Southern Xiongnu.”
“My actions overstepped due to a lack of alternatives. I feel shame, shame for my Emperor’s trust and generosity toward me.”
It sounded like a pretty sincere apology.
But just as she finished speaking, she turned the topic around—
“I only beseech Your Majesty to severely punish those who conscript soldiers and re-establish the Governor of Duluo to stabilize Bingzhou. I wouldn’t need to wear mourning attire to comfort my grandfather or Bingzhou.”
“The disaster at Guyang resulted in very few survivors; the people were unprotected, with no descendants to pay respects, which is truly one of the greatest tragedies.”
“…” Zhang Rang found it quite difficult to maintain an expression of stability.
This Qiao Yan was simply…too much…
For a moment, Zhang Rang couldn’t find the right words to express his feeling of Qiao Yan’s reckless audacity, her defiance, and her overstepping.
All he could think of was, if he remembered correctly, Qiao Yan acted this way two years ago too, all for the sake of stabilizing Bingzhou; she limited the actions of the Governor and the Prefect of Taiyuan before swiftly taking matters into her own hands.
Yet, unlike two years ago when her apologies had led to her being grounded by Liu Hong, it seemed this time she learned nothing from past lessons.
The only difference was that instead of writing a letter to apologize, she directly showed up!
And she even had the gall to add a message for Bingzhou—
With the chaos in Bingzhou, although it hadn’t stirred trouble yet, if more hands were sent to take the position of Governor of Duluo and oversee the military supervisors at the borders, it likely wouldn’t lead to problems.
This kind of talk…most certainly wouldn’t come out of the mouth of someone who came to apologize.
Zhang Rang cautiously glanced toward Liu Hong.
The winter had not yet completely set in, and the Emperor was already wearing an extra layer of clothing inside, looking quite healthy. Nonetheless, his complexion didn’t appear good.
Good thing he was seated in a position that somewhat obscured his slightly grim expression, giving him an air of uncertainty.
“Governor of Duluo?”
Liu Hong rolled the term around in his mouth, wondering what thoughts lay behind his seemingly impassive face—those thoughts only he could ever know.
Three years had passed; the girl who was eleven back then was now fourteen.
In addition to her height, which now rivaled the surrounding bamboo, Liu Hong was not surprised to see her eyes sharp and fierce, like a blade that had been honed to perfection, along with a certain unmasked arrogance forged from past victories in battle.
The cold had arrived in Luoyang, and her white clothes had a frost-like shimmer, but the fierce spirit emanating from her…
Indeed, she had become just as she described herself in her letters—a fierce inferno, incinerating all who dare set foot in Bingzhou!
She hadn’t disappointed his expectations.
But as this headstrong girl stood before him, Liu Hong felt an odd sensation that he was aging rapidly, and it left him wondering if such a solitary talent could truly be managed by him or rather by his successor.
He refocused his gaze on the apology document Qiao Yan had brought, scrutinizing each word, then picked up another document detailing her recent feats, further deepening that strange feeling.
If she hadn’t personally come to Luoyang but instead sent him these two pieces of correspondence, he would probably have to find someone to drag her into the city.
But now…
After she had made her statement, she looked at him without reservation, her face filled with the kind of expectation that begged for him, the Emperor, to take charge of Bingzhou, along with the bold conviction not to back down despite her apology.
What gall.
What a character Qiao Yan had!
Liu Hong found it somewhat amusing!
Comparing to the recent battles in Ji Province, You Province, Jing Province, and Liang Province, although Bingzhou wasn’t exactly following the rules, at least it hadn’t caught fire.
From a certain point of view, he found it satisfactory.
However, such satisfaction clearly couldn’t be openly declared.
At this point, he suddenly regretted appointing Cui Lie to be the Governor of Bingzhou.
That guy could say what he wanted about giving up Liang Province in the court, but it was clear he lacked the fortitude.
Thus, while letting Qiao Yan run wild was fine, trying to rein in this spirited horse was clearly beyond him.
But with fires breaking out everywhere, even if he had the intention to settle scores, he simply didn’t have the energy to spare.
He only asked, “Who do you think could be the Governor of Duluo?”
Qiao Yan seemed to have considered this position beforehand, responding without a second thought: “General Huangfu.”
“He won’t do,” Liu Hong swiftly dismissed this answer. “He has other plans.”
He indeed harbored some caution toward Huangfu Song’s military power, but the recent battles in Liang Province proved Huangfu Song wasn’t invincible, which lessened Liu Hong’s wariness a bit.
Now, with the situation in Liang Province at a stalemate and Ma Teng, Han Sui, and those rascals growing bolder, they had even broken into the Sanfu region.
After Fu Xie’s death, Huangfu Song had frequently petitioned to go to battle. Liu Hong had hesitated but still intended to re-employ Huangfu Song.
As it stood, Huangfu Song couldn’t be chosen for Governor of Duluo.
However, as soon as he said this, he saw no hint of disappointment on Qiao Yan’s face, but rather a glimmer of joy.
This girl’s perceptiveness was as sharp as always, and considering how she behaved the last time she met the Emperor, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
She clearly realized his rejection of Huangfu Song’s suitability also suggested that he hadn’t completely dismissed her proposal.
Undeterred, she continued, “The Governor of Duluo needs to supervise the defense against Hu invaders, so they must possess both bravery and the ability to command troops. Previously, General Huangfu’s uncle held this position, and the General has such capabilities, hence my suggestion.”
“But if Your Majesty thinks there’s another plan for him that makes him unsuitable for this role, then what about Sun Jian?”
“He won’t do either,” Liu Hong rejected. “He had some minor victories in the Liang battle, but failed big time overall. He is indeed a talent but has since been transferred to the position of Prefect in Changsha. With bandits stirring trouble in Lingling, Changsha, and Lingling together, I intend to send him from Changsha to quell the rebellion, so he can’t be dispatched elsewhere.”
Qiao Yan pondered a moment before asking, “Then what about Cao Cao?”
“I’ve heard he had a reputation for strictness and integrity when he was in Jinan. He is currently back at his home, resting. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he led troops as a cavalry officer. Though he may not be as strong as Fu Nanrong or Sun Wentai, he does possess skills in managing military affairs and might be up to the task.”
Liu Hong didn’t offer either a dismissal or endorsement to this suggestion, simply taking a moment before slowly asking, “Why is it that you only recommend people you have crossed paths with during the Yellow Turban Rebellion?”
This phrase had a hint of reproach suggesting favoritism. Anyone else might have felt anxious before Liu Hong at this moment.
Yet, Qiao Yan responded quite straightforwardly: “Recommendations must come from knowing a person’s talents and capabilities; otherwise, if one only has a name to recommend, it would merely lead to appointing someone who is unworthy of that position. I am deeply supported by Your Majesty; I cannot act unwisely.”
Hearing her reply, Liu Hong fell silent for a while.
To be fair, had this sort of preemptive action occurred a few years earlier, he would have tossed her straight into prison—or at the very least stripped her of the title of Marquis of Leping; in any case, he wouldn’t let her engage in such relaxed dialogue about appointing the Governor of Duluo.
But times had changed.
Just as he had to revive the Provincial Governor System to address the current situations across the realm, this kind of exceptional treatment was not without merit.
Especially now that he felt increasingly drained and Liu Bian, the prince supported by He Jin, was not to his liking, he realized he indeed needed some exceptional officials.
And at this moment, Qiao Yan’s responses were undoubtedly satisfying.
The individuals she nominated were those she deemed suitable, not some nobles from Luoyang.
However, Liu Hong still found it impractical to consider Cao Cao.
This was yet another person he needed to place in a special position.
A long time ago, he had envisioned forming an army under his direct command.
When bandits in Lingling declared themselves “Heavenly General,” he was quite furious. Thankfully, Zhang Rang understood his feelings and suggested, since they wanted to self-proclaim, why not call himself “Supreme General” to press those rebellious scoundrels down?
It would be best if he could use this military rank to form an army, instilling dread in the capital and showing those rebels that the current Emperor excels in both civil and military affairs.
Liu Hong recognized this perspective was indeed childish, but he couldn’t deny that he was once again inspired to establish the Western Garden Eight Academies.
If he had such a force at his disposal, even if he required the help of his in-laws for certain matters, he could hand the army over to someone he trusted when necessary, as support for establishing a successor.
The conditions had now been met to establish this army.
The money accumulated from the selling of official positions could satisfy some of his desires but could also serve as military funding.
More precisely, it was for training an imperial private army.
The only part missing was Cao Song’s desire to donate money for a position as Grand Commandant, coupled with Zhao Zhong’s suggestion to sell the noble title in the inner palace—this should be enough.
Now the only issue was how to carry this out without provoking others’ suspicions.
An emperor’s private army should only belong to the emperor, without allowing anyone to meddle. He would possibly consider placing the loyal officer Cao Cao within, but he absolutely could not allow noble families or He Jin to intrude.
With such thoughts, he looked at Qiao Yan and felt a bit calmer.
This time, her arrival in the capital could potentially present an extremely unique opportunity for him.
Could it be possible to select the Governor of Duluo from those fallen into disrepair?
“Who decided to pick a cavalry officer from the West Garden Army?”
Liu Hong tapped his fingers on the open memorials spread out before him.
Qiao Yan came prepared, bringing not only the letters of apology, memorials, and requests from the people but also a certain something: a painting left on a stone wall after the slaughter at Guyang by the Xiu Tu people.
This was meant to serve as proof of the brutal actions of the Xiu Tu, but to Liu Hong at this moment, it carried a different meaning.
Because the impression from the imprint was rather unclear, it merely appeared as if everyone was gazing into a pot together, making him feel like he was in the same predicament.
He recalled how he ascended from the position of Duke of Jiedu Pavilion to the throne, using cruel officials and eunuchs to consolidate power in his hands.
Yet driven by the mindset of common folks, he still believed that ultimate security lay in having decisive power entirely in his grasp; otherwise, the noble clans, maternal relatives, and various rebel forces would all act like enemies trying to carve a piece of meat from him.
So even when selecting private troops, he had to tread carefully.
He didn’t realize that because he had long kept his eyes locked on that imprint, some emotions flickered across his brow subtly, revealing some hints to Qiao Yan.
He casually said, “Let me think it over. Cao Mengde isn’t really suited for the position; perhaps we can pick someone from the army. You may leave for now.”
As Qiao Yan prepared to exit after hearing this, he suddenly called out, “Stop.”
Liu Hong couldn’t help but pinch his brow.
Distracted by the selection of the West Garden cavalry officer, he nearly forgot something crucial.
That rascal Qiao Yan had come to plead guilt; surely, he couldn’t just let her get away with a mere speech.
If he did, everyone would follow her lead.
Last time, he grounded her for two years, but this time the mess was even bigger, and it definitely wasn’t appropriate to stick with the same punishment.
With recurrent uprisings nearby, especially when some rebels, lacking any real skills, thought they could copy the Yellow Turbans’ uprising, it had been over three years since that started, and they decided to raise that flag again.
Although thanks to the previous debate between Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao, the scale of these people was less than he expected, the rhetoric used by Zhang Jiao was still far easier to turn people against than their mere empty words.
If she were grounded now, it might just give them a good reason, and if they encountered particularly awkward situations, she’d have to be useful enough.
But education was absolute.
“Go to the Ministry of Education and announce my imperial decree. You will accept the teachings of the Minister of Education while you’re in the capital,” Liu Hong said in a deep voice. “And if you cross the line again, don’t think I won’t punish you for it.”
Qiao Yan bowed in acknowledgment but, as she lowered her head, a flash of deep thought crossed her mind.
This wasn’t quite right…
Liu Hong’s reaction diverged from what she anticipated.
Proposing to restart the position of General in Bingzhou was indeed part of her strategy of “Retreating to Advance,” which she had confirmed with Guo Jia, but that didn’t mean she’d stepped back enough to escape the blame of acting without permission.
Including what she discussed with Cheng Li before leaving Leping, she had to tread cautiously during her visit to Luoyang.
Yet now it seemed, Liu Hong appeared rather indifferent.
Unless—her suggestion to establish the General in Bingzhou happened to align with some of his plans.
Between the fourth and sixth years of Emperor Zhongping’s reign, what significant event aligned with this?
Qiao Yan pondered, but as she raised her head, she merely put on an expression of “obedience” as Zhang Rang led her out.
She was then “escorted” to the Ministry of Education by the imperial guards Liu Hong dispatched.
As it turned out, the current Minister of Education was an acquaintance made during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
After quelling the rebellion around Qiantang, this person, previously titled Marquis of Qiantang, was summoned back to Luoyang by Liu Hong.
To prevent him from amassing too much military power again, Liu Hong straightforwardly placed him in the Minister’s position, and he hadn’t been moved for three years.
Of course, even with Cao Jie once serving as Minister, greatly reducing the prestige of the position, it was still the highest official in the inner court that dealt with the affairs of state.
This person was none other than Lu Zhi.
Seeing Qiao Yan suddenly brought in like this, even Lu Zhi, who prided himself on being well-informed, was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t exactly lost touch with Qiao Yan either.
For instance, before the major epidemic in the second year of Zhongping, Qiao Yan had written to remind him to be vigilant against infectious diseases, and after she was grounded for her coercion of the governor, Lu Zhi had also sent her a letter, advising her not to be recklessly impulsive.
Of course, from Qiao Yan’s perspective, Lu Zhi’s letter might have felt more like encouragement than advice, given that he was a person who could support the nation with both literary and martial prowess, and he always had a strong backbone.
So when she heard Liu Hong instructing her to follow the teachings of the Minister, she even briefly suspected that Liu Hong wasn’t sending her to cultivate herself but rather to adopt a model of virtue from the Han literati.
And just as she guessed on her way here, after Qiao Yan reported her recent “victories” in Bingzhou, this great Confucian scholar not only didn’t think Qiao Yan needed any moral instruction but even smiled and said, “Yeshū, what you’ve done truly brings joy to everyone!”
Qiao Yan lightly coughed, quietly reminding, “Sir, please be cautious with your words.”
After all, the guards who had escorted her were still present.
Lu Zhi straightened his face and said, “Since His Majesty has entrusted this, during your time in the capital, learn the ‘Book of Documents’ with me.”
He then addressed the guards, “Please tell the general to inform His Majesty that I have already recognized the error that Qiao Hou committed this time. Since I was the one who recommended her to His Majesty alongside General Huangfu, I must take responsibility and ensure she doesn’t act recklessly.”
Lu Zhi’s position as Minister of Education granted him formal authority, and he mentioned the “Book,” which was also known as the “Documents,” recording the official records of how ancient lords managed state affairs and conversed with their ministers.
He even authored a book titled “Excerpts from the Book of Documents” while practicing and researching in the Ministerial role.
So at face value, Liu Hong’s punishment seemed justified.
Studying this would indeed enhance some wisdom in managing state affairs and reporting matters, at least providing an explanation externally.
But how should one say it?
Lu Zhi had a disciple named Liu Bei, who could be seen as someone who dares to take on burdens; another disciple, Gongsun Zan, was forcibly engaged in battle with Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun due to the Yuyang Rebellion — none of them seemed like models of cautious behavior.
Who in Luoyang didn’t have a bit of understanding about this?
Thus, the meaning of this “punishment” became somewhat sensitive.
In fact, once Lu Zhi led Qiao Yan into the inner court, with no guards around, he praised her actions even more.
As he inquired about her achievements in Leping during the past two years, he couldn’t help but stroke his beard and exclaim, “In this chaotic time, having scholarly knowledge alone isn’t sufficient to protect oneself. If not for talents like Zheng Kangcheng, it would be hard to maintain a good reputation. Just look at the governors who have perished at the hands of bandits. Yeshū, your prowess in dealing with the enemy is truly worthy of my past praise.”
Lu Zhi hadn’t actually seen Qiao Yan’s training methods for her subordinates, nor did he know how she rewarded her soldiers.
The simplified version he heard was that Qiao Yan had wiped out two groups of mountain bandits in Bingzhou and then used them as forces to surprise the Xiu Tu — so, picturing his own experiences during the rebellion in Jiujiang, he only felt that her talent for assisting a king was fitting praise.
She was indeed a capable woman deserving of saving the Han.
Unfortunately, when would she have the chance to start from an actual power position?
Or perhaps Liu Hong summoning her to learn from the Minister also had some meaning behind it?
Lu Zhi found Liu Hong’s intentions hard to decipher.
The power of the position of Minister had significantly diminished in recent years, mostly just having some advisory rights; whether he listened or not depended purely on luck.
When he soon heard Qiao Yan express her wish for His Majesty to assign a new governor to Bingzhou in order to ensure command against the Xianbei and Xiongnu, he couldn’t help but envy, though he didn’t show it on his face or in his words and simply asked Qiao Yan about the accommodation arrangements for her attendants in the capital.
Since Qiao Yan was sent by Liu Hong to study the Documents, she might as well have her attendants stay with her to avoid any inconvenience in movement.
“I brought only one close attendant and a coachman; it would be great if they could settle in the Ministry of Education,” she said.
Having just two people wouldn’t really cause any trouble.
But it seems Lu Zhi didn’t realize that when she said “two,” she actually meant three.
Qiao Yan had carefully selected her coachman before setting out, and the one she picked bore a striking resemblance to Guo Jia. When this person drove the carriage into the Ministry stables and then came to meet her with Dian Wei, the face he revealed was unmistakably Guo Jia’s.
Seeing Qiao Yan receiving this playful punishment, Guo Jia examined the already written character for “still” on the table and chuckled, “Looks like Qiao Hou has just passed a major test today. The temperament of this current Son of Heaven is clearly grasped by you.”
“No, that’s not quite right,” Qiao Yan looked up at him. “In fact, after seeing him today, there’s been a slight shift.”
But luckily, it was a change within the controllable range.
If viewed from a later perspective, especially with the evidence of Liu Hong’s actions today as proof, breaking down his words and actions layer by layer, the obvious conclusion was that he was subtly rewarding and punishing Qiao Yan’s conduct.
It turned out that he unwittingly uttered a few more words, mentioning “picking from the army,” further validating Qiao Yan’s judgment.
As she left the Lantai Hall, what she contemplated, a thing beneficial to Liu Hong, was precisely using the opportunity of selecting a General in Bingzhou to continue his Centralized authority path—establishing the West Garden’s Eight Schools that appeared towards the end of Zhongping.
One couldn’t deny, this was indeed a timely moment for selection!
Bingzhou was a harsh land; the position of General was not a sweet deal, and with a thorn like Qiao Yan nearby, it was bound to lead to some contention. If selections were truly made, those who came forth would certainly be rare talents.
This undoubtedly aligned even better with Liu Hong’s interests than the original selection of the West Garden.
However, this was somewhat contrary to Qiao Yan’s original intention.
Her initial plan was to force herself into a precarious situation, inciting the forces within Luoyang to take a stance, and subsequently motion towards portraying Liu Hong as a solitary minister.
Only with that “solitary” word could she seize greater interests.
Now that her circumstances seemed overly smooth, it turned into a troublesome situation.
However… there was still a chance for rescue.
“Feng Xiao,” just as Guo Jia was still pondering the nature of Qiao Yan’s stated variable, he heard her call out his name, “I’d like to trouble you with a task.”
“Since I was brought to Luoyang, I ought to be of assistance,” Guo Jia bowed to her. “Just say the word, and I will definitely see it through.”
“Please visit He Boqiu tomorrow on my behalf and relay a message to him.”
Qiao Yan’s eyes were deep; when Guo Jia looked at her, he could see a calculating glimmer beneath the smile, yet at the moment, if people didn’t strategize, they’d face a dead end, which oddly reassured him.
Clearly, today’s surprise meeting with the Emperor hadn’t affected her mindset.
“He Boqiu works in the Three Dukes’ office, but maintains close ties with the Yuan brothers and has a decent rapport with the Grand General’s Mansion. I want you to inform him—”
During the Prohibition of Factionalists, He Yong was even a sworn ally of Yuan Shao, making him the perfect messenger for this.
“Tell him that there are no everlasting friends nor permanent enemies in this world. I have a matter to convey through him to Yuan Benchu. In the past, I coerced Governor Zhang Yi and offended the Runan Yuan clan; now I return that debt, expressing my intention to mend relations.”
This message certainly had significant weight.
She enunciated clearly: “The Son of Heaven intends to use the pretense of selecting the General in Bingzhou to sift through the elite Imperial Guards. If they are to insert their personnel, now is the time.”
“However, I won’t inform them without conditions; if the future selected General maintains connections with them, it absolutely cannot restrict my military training in Bingzhou! If this condition is violated, what I disclosed today can be altered tomorrow.”
Guo Jia was taken aback by this news.
But he quickly realized that Qiao Yan leaking this matter to Yuan Shao and others was undoubtedly the best choice for her. And because of the terms she proposed, it became even easier to gain their trust.
He witnessed Qiao Yan pick up her brush and write the character for “change” on a fresh sheet of paper, then slowly said, “Let’s remind them of one more thing—”
“A dog desperate may jump over the wall; don’t push the Son of Heaven too hard.”
He felt like he was the meat boiling in a pot.
But who knows, he might just pull off something remarkable… right?
