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“Can a strategist not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 90: A Return to Familiar Grounds
Of course, when Guo Jia approached He Yong, he didn’t actually spit out that metaphor Qiao Yan used about a cornered dog.
Needless to say, if you can handle the likes of Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia, Qiao Yan was quite the character herself, teasing on a whole different level.
Thinking back to that one “change” character she scribbled down, it had this vibe that hinted she held the power of the winds and clouds in her hands.
After hearing Guo Jia mention, “We must be cautious about our hidden candidates; lest His Majesty changes his mind or may interfere with the gentry,” He Yong looked at him with suspicion and asked, “What makes the Marquis of Leping so sure that His Majesty would choose this path?”
What really surprised He Yong was that he had waved Guo Jia off to Luoyang only a month or two ago for a casual visit, and now, out of nowhere, he’s a messenger for the Marquis of Leping?
He Yong didn’t think Guo Jia was being tricked or anything like that.
This friend of his, who wasn’t that much younger, he may not have given an appraisal as grand as Xun Yu’s, but He Yong knew his capabilities well enough. He definitely wouldn’t easily sell out his future for anyone, which meant that the Marquis of Leping was truly something special.
Especially since she really dares to recruit talented people.
Any other person in his shoes would think twice about giving such earth-shattering news to someone they just met for less than two months, but He Yong had to admit, if this information was true, then Guo Jia, who seemed loosely tied to her, was actually the most suitable messenger.
Because no one would connect him back to the Marquis of Leping.
Guo Jia replied, “It’s because the Marquis of Leping visited the emperor alone today, and what she saw is what she got. And because ever since the seventh year of Guanghe, she has risen amid chaos without a single wrong judgment. Others see her soaring up with public acclaim; do they think it’s just her luck that’s better than everyone else’s?”
With He Yong’s perspective, he wouldn’t think that way.
Qiao Yan was only fourteen, yet she held such status today. Compared to the Yuan brothers who still needed He Jin’s backing, she really shouldn’t even be grouped with the younger generation.
So, the words she had Guo Jia relay were especially significant.
After sending Guo Jia off, He Yong immediately sought out Yuan Shao.
Qiao Yan’s grasp of relationships was spot on. If Yuan Ji, the eldest of the Yuan clan, had begun to hone his political capital as one of the Nine Ministers, and his brother Yuan Shu was charging through the military ranks without a care, then Yuan Shao was viewed as a hope for the gentry. Except for his somewhat unsatisfactory strategies concerning Bingzhou, he had executed all his plans without a hitch, hence He Yong saw him as a hero worth backing.
He relayed the information that Qiao Yan had Guo Jia pass along, and saw Yuan Shao quickly suppress the flicker of anger that arose just from the fact that it came from Qiao Yan. Instead, he fell into deep thought over the intelligence provided.
Could Liu Hong really be looking to secretly select the Western Garden Eight Scholars in a more private manner? Was that even possible?
Very possible!
The Zero Ridge watching the cranes had merely promoted themselves to ‘General of Peace,’ whereas Zhang Ju of Yuyang was outright declaring himself Emperor. Ma Teng and Han Sui, those Western Liang rascals, had even reached into the Three Auxiliaries; whoever was currently sitting on the throne would undoubtedly cherish their power like a treasure and feel it’s still insufficient.
And from Yuan Shao’s viewpoint, Liu Hong seemed to still rely heavily on Grand General He Jin, yet he behaved somewhat erratically, still maintaining the eunuchs’ influence amidst all that apparent favor.
Therefore, it was quite common for outsiders to hold military power during the Eastern Han dynasty, like the older brother of Empress He, Deng Zhi, or the siblings of Emperor Shun and Emperor Huan.
But perhaps it was because of the last Empress Huan’s father, Dou Wu, who tried to eradicate the eunuchs and was killed by Liu Hong for crossing the Emperor’s authority, which made this Emperor distrust He Jin more than trust him.
In such a scenario, using a different title to scout for personal armies for the Emperor seemed not only legit but also kept the crowds at bay, while preventing others from meddling.
So, was it even plausible for Qiao Yan to inform them of this news?
Absolutely plausible!
This girl may have embarrassed Yuan Wei on the court and forced Zhang Yi out of Bingzhou, but she never touched the fundamental interests of the Yuan clan.
Yuan Wei stepping down from his position was ultimately just a normal turnover, rather than a consequence of some fallout.
Just as she stated, there are no eternal enemies in this world; only people who temporarily ally for mutual benefit.
The gentry wanted to gain more action autonomy, ensuring that the tragedy of the Prohibition of Factionalists wouldn’t occur again, while Qiao Yan aimed to prevent chaos from reaching her Leping.
With the convergence of these two interests at this moment, forming a beneficial alliance was more than acceptable.
Since this was mutually advantageous, her actions would carry enough credibility.
Yuan Shao pondered and then asked He Yong, “What’s your take on this news, Boqiu?”
“It’s a news worth testing, and there’s no harm in it. However, it might be bad news for Benchu,” He Yong replied.
Though he called it “bad news,” there wasn’t much displeasure on Yuan Shao’s face.
How could he not know what He Yong meant by bad news?
If they acted on Qiao Yan’s suggestion, they would only be lurking in the shadows during the selection process, merely advising from behind the scenes. Yuan Shao could no longer place himself as a main actor among the Western Garden Eight Scholars.
But from a larger perspective, there was nothing wrong with that.
Besides, trying it out wouldn’t hurt.
If the Emperor changed his mind again, not wanting to go with what Qiao Yan suggested, they wouldn’t suffer any loss.
At most, while handling this matter, they’d need to heed Qiao Yan’s warning, making sure not to overstep boundaries and invite Liu Hong’s suspicion.
Thus, Yuan Shao’s second question was: “Do you think this needs to be reported to the Grand General?”
They, the Yuan clan, couldn’t gobble up the post of the Western Garden Eight Scholars alone; if they did, no matter how many students the Yuan family had, they’d still be laid bare before the public eye, becoming a target for critique.
But the more they informed, the more tricky it would get to manage that very boundary.
Yuan Shao couldn’t help but grumble inwardly; it seemed that Qiao Yan was trying to mend the previously strained relations with the Yuan clan by handing them a vital piece of information, but along with it, she tossed them a hot potato to handle.
He Yong thought for a moment and said, “Let’s hold off on informing him for now, wait until the formal selection situation arises and then let Benchu keep an eye on one person’s movements – Jian Shuo.”
“If this person joins the selection process, then what the Marquis of Leping said must hold true, and at that point, there’d be enough reason to inform the Grand General about this matter.”
If they just laid it out there, it was because Qiao Yan provided the intelligence…
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“This judgement is based on the news, and with He Jin’s intellect and his understanding of the Marquis of Leping, there’s no way he would believe this matter to be true, even if it could delay serious affairs.”
But what if a eunuch appears under the pretense of playing around, claiming it’s just a test?
When combined with the news of private military recruitment, things start to get a bit delicate.
“What Baiqiu said makes sense,” Yuan Shao nodded in agreement. “However, if that’s the case, it’s not just the conflict between Qiao Yan and our Yuan clan that could be resolved. If we can truly gain further control over the situation, it seems we owe her a favor.”
“What harm could that do?” He Yong countered.
That truly poses no harm.
Qiao Yan has already proven her connection with Bi Lan in Leping is merely for the sake of the Dragon Bone Waterwheel, purely drawn to his remarkable skills, rather than having any real dealings with the eunuch faction.
Essentially, she’s a staunch pragmatist and doer.
From her decisive move to sell Liu Hong, it’s evident that as long as there’s enough benefit for her, Leping, and Bingzhou, she could be swayed.
Such a versatile young talent, even if it’s clear she seeks to establish her own credentials without bias, is still a splendid asset.
Yuan Shao chuckled heartily, “Right, there’s no harm in this. We’ll repay it later. Besides, if the Marshall of Liaodong really is promoted, I suspect Cao Mengde will be unable to sit idle at home. We can just invite him to drinks to settle the debt.”
Cao Cao’s stance is rather strange due to his grandfather’s issues, but his friendship with Yuan Shao is genuine.
Since relationships can’t be measured by debts, let’s just get someone else to settle those debts!
Currently, what’s more important for Yuan Shao is choosing someone to represent the Yuan clan’s interests when he can’t participate in this matter.
Chunyu Qiong… it’s still a bit too obvious.
While Yuan Shao considered consulting with the elders of his clan, Qiao Yan began her studies alongside Lu Zhi in the Book of Documents.
However, even if the intent was more to fulfill a duty, Lu Zhi’s chosen reading was still somewhat unexpected for Qiao Yan.
He picked a passage from the “Shangshu – Shuo Ming.”
The “Shuo” here does not mean to speak, but rather refers to Fu Shuo, the wise minister who assisted King Wu Ding in revitalizing the state.
The three accounts in “Shuo Ming” recount the mutual respect between Wu Ding and Fu Shuo, including how Wu Ding dreamed of a sage and heeded Fu Shuo’s counsel, as well as their dialogues.
On the surface, Lu Zhi’s selection to teach this text seems to be a task assigned by Liu Hong.
This not only expresses his expectations for Liu Hong to emulate the ancient wise rulers, but also serves to show Qiao Yan how a “normal” minister offers advice to a monarch.
But considering Lu Zhi’s proposals written after the solar eclipse in the first year of Guanghe, especially the suggestions to pardon the party members, lay to rest the relatives of Empress Song, and to advise Liu Hong against hoarding wealth, it’s evident his words were pretty sharp yet completely ignored by Liu Hong. Clearly, he knew the slim chances of realizing that scenario from the “Shuo Ming.”
This move is rather ironic.
But this has nothing to do with Qiao Yan, the innocent student.
She neatly copied a passage, sending it to Liu Hong through the imperial guards who were checking on her academic progress.
Liu Hong unfurled the silk he had intentionally swapped for presentation to the king and found it inscribed with—
“People seek to hear more, as time spins tales; learning from ancient lessons yields rewards. Actions not modeled after the past last only through the ages, sparse words carry little weight.”
Translated, combining with Qiao Yan’s intent, this essentially means:
“Your Majesty speaks truly, one ought to read more books, especially ancient ones, to learn from the accomplishments of our predecessors. When acting, one must also pay heed to ancient teachings rather than recklessly charging ahead.”
“I have come to realize my own shallowness in knowledge and aimless actions. Today, the Minister of Books shared this segment with me, which profoundly moved me, thus I recorded it and presented it before Your Majesty.”
Liu Hong almost laughed out of frustration at her act.
If she genuinely thinks of herself as ill-informed, who penned those previous letters of apology and that Discourse on Feudalism? If she truly believed she’d erred, could she really just copy texts without adding a spice of her own thoughts?
Moreover, which ancient examples is she following really? It’s clear she has some ideas in mind.
But at least on the surface, this holds up, and Liu Hong shook his head, setting it aside for now.
However, while deliberating the identity of the private army officer, and feeling a bit conflicted about the candidate, he casually asked, “Who did she see since arriving in the capital?”
Zhang Rang, having anticipated Liu Hong’s inquiry, replied, “From yesterday until finishing this book, the Marquis of Leping was at Lord Lu’s residence. Just earlier, she expressed a desire to visit her grandfather’s former home. Lord Lu deemed it appropriate and let her go; she seems to have encountered no one on the way and is currently at the ancestral residence on Yanzhi Lane.”
“Yanzhi Lane…”
Three years is enough time for Liu Hong to forget his visit to Qiao Xuan back then.
As his health has deteriorated, he increasingly wished to evade memories of those near-death experiences.
Considering Qiao Yan’s identity, returning to her grandfather’s former home to pay respects at this time seems quite reasonable, so he simply waved his hand, indicating he would not press further.
Meanwhile, Qiao Yan had pushed open the gate of this small courtyard.
Before she left Luoyang, since her grandfather’s old servant did not wish to follow her to Leping and only intended to tend to this place for the former master, Qiao Yan left him a sum for maintenance. Thus, upon her arrival, it felt just like old times, not dusty or strewn with fallen leaves.
Perhaps because the old servant had no master to care for, nor did he have any other tasks, he focused his energy on tidying this place. Even the eaves with the inscription “Forever Enjoy Blessings” looked like they had been polished regularly, maintaining an unusually clean state.
Especially in the inner courtyard’s vegetable plots, remnants of crops from this year were still visible, with the soil freshly turned.
Qiao Yan couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
The courtyard remains unchanged, only missing Qiao Xuan.
She moved back to the outer courtyard and saw the largest, most rooted crooked tree still leaning against a neighbor’s wall.
However, now that winter chill had arrived, this tree wasn’t of an evergreen variety, and its leaves had nearly all fallen, making the courtyard feel a bit more desolate.
Just as she pondered whether this marked the change brought about by three years, she suddenly spotted a familiar little head popping out from the wall, gazing at her.
That girl, who had been just four or five years old at the time, was now eight.
Yet looking at her expression, she seemed unchanged.
Before Qiao Yan could speak, the girl waved her hand and quietly asked, “Sister, I’ve just harvested a batch of mustard greens from your fields, would you like to taste them today?”
